And yet, as she sat there with him she felt as if she might confide in him.

He would listen without anger or reproach.

He would forgive.

He--her heart soared, but her brain came back with a jolt to her daily thinking again.

No, no, he must not know, he must never know; for if he knew, then all would surely be over between them, and then, she might as well die and be done with it! "Come, Carlia." She did not even hear him.
But Dorian must know, he must know the truth before he asked her again to marry him.