The habit of her whole life from her babyhood up had been to so look to him as comrade and protector and sympathetic friend.

She was so absolutely sure of his earnest devotion that this new experience of a riper feeling would have been a joy to her, if it should be that his act was all spontaneous and done in ignorance of her shame.

'Shame' was the generic word which now summarised to herself her thought of her conduct in proposing to Leonard.

But of this she must be certain.

She could not, dare not, go farther till this was settled.