"Then you don't think it's me any longer ?" "I know it is not.

Nevertheless, Mrs.Steel must prepare for a shock." Rachel was shocked.

But her grief and horror, though both were real and poignant, were swept away for that hour at least by the full tide of her joy.
It was a double joy.

Not only would Rachel be cleared for ever before the world, but her husband would stand exonerated at her side.

The day of unfounded suspicions, of either one of them, by the other or by the world, that day at least was over once for all.
Her heart was too full for many explanations; she lingered while Langholm told of his interview with Abel, and then left him to one with her husband alone.
Langholm thereupon spoke more openly of his whole case against Steel, who instantly admitted its strength.
"But I owe you an apology," the latter added, "not only for something I said to you this afternoon, more in mischief than in malice, which I would nevertheless unsay if I could, but for deliberately manufacturing the last link in your chain.