And neither has Mrs.Brook." "I'm glad you're sure of that also," Mitchy returned, "for it's only doing her justice." "Oh I'm quite confident of it," said Vanderbank.

"And without asking her ?" "Perfectly." "And you're equally sure, without asking, that _I_ haven't betrayed you ?" After which, while, as if to let the question lie there in its folly, Vanderbank said nothing, his friend pursued: "I came, I must tell you, terribly near it to-day." "Why must you tell me?
Your coming 'near' doesn't concern me, and I take it you don't suppose I'm watching or sounding you.

Mrs.Brook will have come terribly near," Vanderbank continued as if to make the matter free; "but she won't have done it either.

She'll have been distinctly tempted--!" "But she won't have fallen ?" Mitchy broke in.

"Exactly--there we are.
_I_ was distinctly tempted and I didn't fall.