When first she had sunk upon the ground, she had been weak, and wanted pardon though she was ignorant of all offence; but his hardness, as he stood with his eyes fixed upon her, had hardened her, and all her intellect, though not her heart, was in revolt against him.

"You think that I have robbed you ?" "I do not know what to think," he said.
Then she rose slowly to her feet, and, collecting the papers which he had strewed upon the table, put them back slowly into the desk, and locked it.
"You have done with this now," she said, holding the key in her hand.
"Yes; I do not want the key again." "And you have done with me also ?" He paused a moment or two to collect his thoughts, and then he answered her.

"Nina, I would wish to think about this before I speak of it more fully.

What step I may next take I cannot say without considering it much.

I would not wish to pain you if I could help it." "Tell me at once what it is that you believe of me ?" "I cannot tell you at once.