I know that now.

She only accepted him because she found herself in such a beastly anomalous position, with all the spiteful cats of the regiment arrayed against her, treating her like a pariah." "Did she tell you so ?" There was no irony in Monck's tone this time.

It fell short and stern.
Again Tommy glanced at him as one uncertain.

"Not likely," he said.
"Then why do you make the assertion?
What grounds have you for making the assertion ?" Monck spoke with insistence as one who meant to have an answer.
And the boy answered him, albeit shamefacedly.

"I really can't say, Monck.