"At any rate, he hasn't popped," she said to herself, as she made her way back to the school.
After that Miss Prettyman and Miss Crawley were closeted together for about an hour.

What passed between them need not be repeated here word for word; but it may be understood that Miss Prettyman said no more than she ought to have said, and that Grace understood all that she ought to have understood.
"No man ever behaved with more considerate friendship, or more like a gentleman," said Miss Prettyman.
"I am sure he is very good, and I am so glad he did not ask to see me," said Grace.

Then Grace went away, and Miss Prettyman sat awhile in thought, considering what she had done, not without some stings of conscience.
Major Grantly, as he walked home, was not altogether satisfied with himself, though he gave himself credit for some diplomacy which I do not think he deserved.

He felt that Miss Prettyman and the world in general, should the world in general ever hear anything about it, would give him credit for having behaved well; and that he had obtained this credit without committing himself to the necessity of marrying the daughter of a thief, should things turn out badly in regard to the father.

But,--and this but robbed him of all the pleasure which comes from real success,--but he had not treated Grace Crawley with the perfect generosity which love owes, and he was in some degree ashamed of himself.