To betray Mrs.Lascelles, and _her_ secret, would certainly not prevent one.

Both courses were out of the question upon other grounds.

Yet what else was left?
To speak out boldly to Mrs.Lascelles, to betray Catherine and myself to her?
I shrank from that; nor had I any right to reveal a secret which was not only mine.

What then was I to do?
Here was this lad professedly on the point of proposing to this woman.

It was useless to speak to the lad; it was impossible to speak to the woman.