I tried, I tried hard, to act for the best.
And, you know," she next pursued, while, at the sound of her own statement, a slow courage and even a faint warmth of conviction came back to her--"and, you know, I believe it's what I shall turn out to have done." This produced a minute during which their interchange, though quickened and deepened, was that of silence only, and the long, charged look; all of which found virtual consecration when Maggie at last spoke.

"I'm sure you tried to act for the best." It kept Fanny Assingham again a minute in silence.

"I never thought, dearest, you weren't an angel." Not, however, that this alone was much help! "It was up to the very eve, you see," the Princess went on--"up to within two or three days of our marriage.

That, THAT, you know--!" And she broke down for strangely smiling.
"Yes, as I say, it was while she was with me.

But I didn't know it.