But he began with a pretence of questioning her about herself, and as she replied, she saw that, for the first time, a faint realization of her plight penetrated the dense surface of his self-absorption.

Was it possible that her old beast of an aunt had actually cut her off?
That she was living alone like this because there was no one else for her to go to, and that she really hadn't more than enough to keep alive on till the wretched little legacy was paid?
The fibres of sympathy were nearly atrophied in him, but he was suffering so intensely that he had a faint glimpse of what other sufferings might mean--and, as she perceived, an almost simultaneous perception of the way in which her particular misfortunes might serve him.
When at length she dismissed him, on the pretext that she must dress for dinner, he lingered entreatingly on the threshold to blurt out: "It's been such a comfort--do say you'll let me see you again--" But to this direct appeal it was impossible to give an assent; and she said with friendly decisiveness: "I'm sorry--but you know why I can't." He coloured to the eyes, pushed the door shut, and stood before her embarrassed but insistent.

"I know how you might, if you would--if things were different--and it lies with you to make them so.

It's just a word to say, and you put me out of my misery!" Their eyes met, and for a second she trembled again with the nearness of the temptation.

"You're mistaken; I know nothing; I saw nothing," she exclaimed, striving, by sheer force of reiteration, to build a barrier between herself and her peril; and as he turned away, groaning out "You sacrifice us both," she continued to repeat, as if it were a charm: "I know nothing--absolutely nothing." Lily had seen little of Rosedale since her illuminating talk with Mrs.
Fisher, but on the two or three occasions when they had met she was conscious of having distinctly advanced in his favour.