The position in which she found herself was so alarmingly novel, it made such a whirlpool in her quiet life, that it was all she could do to struggle with the throbbing of her heart and attempt to gather her thoughts.

She did not even reflect that her eyes were fixed on Hubert's in a steady gaze.

Only the sound of his voice after silence aided her to some degree of collectedness.
'There is every reason why you should accuse me of worse than impertinence,' Hubert continued, less impulsively.

'I can only ask your forgiveness.

Miss Waltham may very likely refuse to see me, but, if you would ask her--' Letty was borne on a torrent of strange thoughts.