I had planned to take you home by the next train." Iris looked at him in astonishment.

"Is it possible that you mean what you say ?" she asked.
"My dear, I do most assuredly mean what I say.

Why should you hesitate?
What possible reason can there be for staying here any longer ?" "Oh, Hugh, how you disappoint me! What has become of your kind feeling, your sense of justice, your consideration for others?
Poor Mrs.
Vimpany!" "What has Mrs.Vimpany to do with it ?" Iris was indignant.
"What has Mrs.Vimpany to do with it ?" she repeated.

"After all that I owe to that good creature's kindness; after I have promised to accompany her--she has so few happy days, poor soul!--on excursions to places of interest in the neighbourhood, do you expect me to leave her--no! it's worse than that--do you expect me to throw her aside like an old dress that I have worn out?
And this after I have so unjustly, so ungratefully suspected her in my own thoughts?
Shameful! shameful!" With some difficulty, Mountjoy controlled himself.

After what she had just said, his lips were sealed on the subject of Mrs.Vimpany's true character.