"Now, if it were the signorina--" I never object to bowing down in the temple of Rimmon, so I said: "Hang the signorina!" "If I thought you meant that," said Donna Antonia, "I might be able to help you." "Do I want help ?" I asked.
"Yes," said she.
"Then suppose I do mean it ?" Donna Antonia refused to be frivolous.

With a look of genuine distress she said: "You will not let your real friends save you, Mr.Martin.You know you want help.

Why don't you consider the state of your affairs ?" "In that, at least, my friends in Whittingham are very ready to help me," I answered, with some annoyance.
"If you take it in that way," she replied sadly, "I can do nothing." I was rather touched.

Clearly she wished to be of some use to me, and for a moment I thought I might do better to tear myself free from my chains, and turn to the refuge opened to me.

But I could not do this; and, thinking it would be rather mean to take advantage of her interest in me only to use it for my own purposes, I yielded to conscience and said: "Donna Antonia, I will be straightforward with you.