It arose from a secret trouble in her own heart, which she might, involuntarily, be led to betray.

She had never talked thus confidentially with any man; not, in truth, with her husband.

There was no fear whatever of her conceiving an undue interest in Barfoot; certain reasons assured her of that; but talk that was at all sentimental gravely threatened her peace--what little remained to her.

It would have been better to discourage this man's confidences; yet they flattered her so pleasantly, and afforded such a fruitful subject for speculation, that she could not obey the prompting of prudence.
'Do you mean,' she said, 'that Miss Nunn seems to disguise her feelings ?' 'It is supposed to be wrong--isn't it ?--for a man to ask one woman her opinion of another.' 'I can't be treacherous if I wished,' Monica replied.

'I don't feel that I understand her.' Barfoot wondered how much intelligence he might attribute to Mrs.
Widdowson.