She became very quiet.
"Oh, she shouldn't have come to Little Beeding," she said in a low voice, staring now upon the ground.

It was to herself she spoke, but Dick answered her, and his voice rose to a challenge.
"Why shouldn't she?
Here she was born, here she was known.

What else should she do but come back to Little Beeding and hold her head high?
I respect her pride for doing it." Here were reasons no doubt why Stella should come back; but they did not include the reason why she had.

Dick Hazlewood was well aware of it.

He had learnt it only the afternoon before when he was with her on the river.