The full story of his debts he kept back, not with any predetermined falseness, but because it is so difficult for a man to own that he has absolutely ruined himself by his own folly.

It was not wonderful that the girl should not have understood such a story as had then been told her.

Why was he defending his mother?
Why was he accusing his father?
The accusations against her uncle, whom she did know, were more fearful to her than these mysterious charges against her aunt, whom she did not know, from which her son defended her.

But then he had spoken passionately of his own love, and she had understood that.

He had besought her to confess that she loved him, and then she had at once become stubborn.