‘Has anything led you to think there was?’ she asked, urgently.
‘Mrs. Baxendale tells me you—Emily, why have I to pain you in this way?’
‘But tell me—tell me What did she say?’
‘That on coming to yourself you did not know of your father’s death.’
‘It is true; I did not. My illness began before.’
Wilfrid stood with his eyes on the ground.
‘Tell me, again,’ she said. ‘What else did Mrs. Baxendale say?’
‘Nothing. Her surprise when she heard this from your mother was as great as mine when it was repeated to me.’
‘It is true,’ Emily repeated, more calmly, as if relieved. ‘I don’t try to conceal that there is a reason I may not speak of. Will you not believe that it is strong enough to change my life? If I did not tell you this, you might indeed refuse to listen to me, thinking I was not
