By some clever device of his own, he got her into the back room and whispered to her that he wanted to say a few words in private to her sister.
"Oh, certainly," said Mrs.Trevelyan, smiling.
"I dare say you may guess what they are," said he.

"I don't know what chance I may have." "I can tell you nothing about that," she replied, "as I know nothing.
But you have my good wishes." And then she went.
It may be presumed that gradually some idea of Mr.Glascock's intention had made its way into Nora's mind by the time that she found herself alone with that gentleman.

Why else had he brought into the room with him that manifest air of a purpose?
Why else had he taken the very strong step of sending the lady of the house out of her own drawing-room?
Nora, beginning to understand this, put herself into an attitude of defence.

She had never told herself that she would refuse Mr.Glascock.She had never acknowledged to herself that there was another man whom she liked better than she liked Mr.
Glascock.

But had she ever encouraged any wish for such an interview, her feelings at this moment would have been very different from what they were.