The late John Harmon could have borne a good deal, but he would have been cut to the heart by such a suspicion as this.

“Would it be generous and honourable to step into your place⁠—if you did so, for I don’t know that you did, and I hope you did not⁠—anticipating, or knowing beforehand, that I should come here, and designing to take me at this disadvantage?”

“This mean and cruel disadvantage,” said the Secretary.

“Yes,” assented Bella.

The Secretary kept silence for a little while; then merely said, “You are wholly mistaken, Miss Wilfer; wonderfully mistaken. I cannot say, however, that it is your fault. If I deserve better things of you, you do not know it.”