Promise that you won't." "But I came here to talk about her," he replied.
Beatrice, for a moment, said nothing.

Then she threw down his hands and laughed once more.

As she flung herself back in her place, it seemed to Tavernake that he saw once more the girl who had stood upon the roof of the boarding-house.
"You came to talk about Elizabeth!" she exclaimed.

"I forgot.

Well, go on, what is it ?" "Your sister is in trouble!" "Are you her confidant ?" Beatrice asked.
"I am not exactly that," he admitted, "but she has asked me to come and see you." Beatrice had suddenly grown hard, her lips were set together, even her attitude was uncompromising.
"Say exactly what you have to say," she told him.