Was it well to say that?
Must there follow yet more explanation?
She with difficulty overcame an impulse to speak on and disclose all her mind, the same kind of impulse she had known several times of late.

Sheer dread this time prevailed.

The eyes that were upon her concealed fire; what madness tempted her to provoke its outburst?
'I have never done so before,' she replied confusedly.
'Why to-day, then ?' She did not answer.
'And why did you tell--why did you say it was money ?' 'I can't explain that,' she answered, her head bowed.

'I took off the ring thoughtlessly; it is rather loose; my finger is thinner than it used to be.' On the track of cunning Mutimer's mind was keen enough; only amid the complexities of such motives as sway a pure heart in trouble was he quite at a loss.

This confession of untruthfulness might on the face of it have spoken in Adela's favour; but his very understanding of that made him seek for subtle treachery.