I little thought I should ever have another.

Late as it is, shall I avail myself of it?
Nay! if not before, why _now_?
Why _now_ ?--when there are so much stronger reasons for silence--when to speak would be to knock to atoms the newly-built edifice of Barbara's happiness--to rake up the old and nearly dead ashes of Frank's frustrated, and for aught I know, sincerely repented sin?
So I answer, faintly indeed, yet quite audibly and distinctly: "Nothing." "NOTHING ?" (in an accent and with eyes of the keenest, wistfulest interrogation, as if he would wring from me, against my will, the confession I so resolutely withhold).
But I turn away from that heart-breaking, heart-broken scrutiny, and answer: "Nothing!".