There was silence, the only sounds the slash of the boat through the water, and the slight flapping of the canvas.
"I am a woman," she said at last, "and we like to pretend to misunderstand, but I am not going to yield to that inclination.

I do understand, and will answer frankly.

We can never be friends as we were before." My heart sank, and I felt a choke in my voice difficult to overcome.
"I was afraid it would be so." "Yes," and both her hands were upon mine, "in our position we cannot afford to play at cross purposes.

You have been loyal to me, even when every inducement was offered elsewhere.

There was a moment when I almost doubted, but it was only for a moment.