There was the explanation that I had sought for in vain--the explanation of my persistent dislike to Nugent! That horrid dark face of his must have produced some influence on me when I first touched it, like the influence which your horrid purple dress produced on me, when I first touched _that._ Don't you see ?" I saw but too plainly.

Oscar had been indebted for his escape from discovery entirely to Lucilla's misinterpretation of his language.

And Lucilla's misinterpretation now stood revealed as the natural product of her anxiety to account for her prejudice against Nugent Dubourg.

Although the mischief had been done--still, for the quieting of my own conscience, I made an attempt to shake her faith in the false conclusion at which she had arrived.
"There is one thing I don't see yet," I said.

"I don't understand Oscar's embarrassment in speaking to you.