No, Lady Lowborough, I do not found my charge upon suspicion.' 'On what do you found it, then ?' said she, throwing herself into an arm-chair, and stretching out her feet to the fender, with an obvious effort to appear composed.
'I enjoy a moonlight ramble as well as you,' I answered, steadily fixing my eyes upon her; 'and the shrubbery happens to be one of my favourite resorts.' She coloured again excessively, and remained silent, pressing her finger against her teeth, and gazing into the fire.

I watched her a few moments with a feeling of malevolent gratification; then, moving towards the door, I calmly asked if she had anything more to say.
'Yes, yes!' cried she eagerly, starting up from her reclining posture.
'I want to know if you will tell Lord Lowborough ?' 'Suppose I do ?' 'Well, if you are disposed to publish the matter, I cannot dissuade you, of course--but there will be terrible work if you do--and if you don't, I shall think you the most generous of mortal beings--and if there is anything in the world I can do for you--anything short of--' she hesitated.
'Short of renouncing your guilty connection with my husband, I suppose you mean ?' said I.
She paused, in evident disconcertion and perplexity, mingled with anger she dared not show.
'I cannot renounce what is dearer than life,' she muttered, in a low, hurried tone.

Then, suddenly raising her head and fixing her gleaming eyes upon me, she continued earnestly: 'But, Helen--or Mrs.Huntingdon, or whatever you would have me call you--will you tell him?
If you are generous, here is a fitting opportunity for the exercise of your magnanimity: if you are proud, here am I--your rival--ready to acknowledge myself your debtor for an act of the most noble forbearance.' 'I shall not tell him.' 'You will not!' cried she, delightedly.

'Accept my sincere thanks, then!' She sprang up, and offered me her hand.

I drew back.
'Give me no thanks; it is not for your sake that I refrain.