You and Flower know that sometimes they do." The doctor smiled sadly and very tenderly.

"I know," he said, "that there is always one exception which proves every rule." Then he added quickly: "But, unquestionably, it helps to mend matters, so far as your own mental attitude is concerned, that before you knew of Dalmain's blindness you should have admitted yourself wrong, and made up your mind to trust him." "I don't know that I was altogether clear about having been wrong," said Jane, "but I was quite convinced that I couldn't live any longer without him, and was therefore prepared to risk it.

And of course now, all doubt or need to question is swept away by my poor boy's accident, which simplifies matters, where that particular point is concerned." The doctor looked at Jane with a sudden raising of his level brows.
"Simplifies matters ?" he said.
Then, as Jane, apparently satisfied with the expression, did not attempt to qualify it, he rose and stirred the fire; standing over it for a few moments in silent thought.

When he sat down again, his voice was very quiet, but there was an alertness about his expression which roused Jane.

She felt that the crisis of their conversation had been reached.
"And now, my dear Jeanette," said the doctor, "suppose you tell me what you intend doing." "Doing ?" said Jane.