All Avonsbridge talking of her--her, Dr.Grey's wife, who had his honor as well as her own in her keeping--talking about herself and Sir Edwin Uniacke! What?
how much?
how had the tale come about?
how could it be met?
With a sudden instinct of self-preservation, she forcibly summoned back her composure.

She knew with whom she had to deal.

She must guard every look, every word.
"Will you tell me.

Miss Gascoigne, exactly who is talking about me, and what they say?
I am sure I have never given occasion for it." "Never?
Are you quite certain of that ?" "Quite certain.

Who said I had 'a very close acquaintance'-- were not these your words--with Sir Edwin Uniacke ?" "Himself." "Himself!" Then Christian recognized the whole amount of her difficulty--nay, her danger; for she was in the power, not of a gentleman, but of a villain.
Any man must have been such who, under the circumstances, could have boasted of their former acquaintance, or even referred to it at all.
"Kiss and tell ?" runs the disdainful proverb.