People could think her guilty if they liked, but that the case should breed other cases, and thus drag on and on, and, above all, that she should make money out of all that past horror, what an unbearable idea! On second thoughts, Mr.Steel agreed.
"Then you must let me send you back to Australia." No, no, no; she could never show her face there again, or anywhere else where she was known.
She must begin life afresh, that was evident.
"It was evident to me," said Steel, quietly, "though not more so than the injustice of it, from the very beginning.

Hence the plans and proposals that I have put before you." Rachel regarded him wildly; the Sunday papers had driven her to desperation, as, perhaps, it was intended that they should.
"Are you sure," she cried, "that they would not know me--up north ?" "Not from Eve," he answered airily.

"I should see to that; and, besides, we should first travel, say until the summer." "If only I _could_ begin my life again!" said Rachel to herself, but aloud, in a way that made no secret of her last, most desperate inclination.
"That is exactly what I wish you to do," Steel rejoined quietly, even gently, his hand lying lightly but kindly upon her quivering shoulder.
How strong his touch, how firm, how reassuring! It was her first contact with his hand.
"I wish it so much," he went on, "that I would have your past life utterly buried, even between ourselves; nay, if it were possible, even in your own mind also! I, for my part, would undertake never to ask you one solitary question about that life--on one small and only fair condition.

Supposing we make a compact now ?" "Anything to bury my own past," owned Rachel; "yes, I would do anything--anything!" "Then you must help me to bury mine, too," he said.

"I was never married, but a past I have." "I would do my best," said Rachel, "if I married you." "You will do your best," added Steel, correcting her; "and there is my compact cut and dried.