I wrote as nicely, as kindly, as delicately as I knew how.

And her reply was a practical request that I mind my business!...
Which was vulgar and outrageous, considering that she had given me her promise--" Mrs.Collis checked herself in her headlong and indignant complaint; then she coloured painfully, but her mouth settled into tight, uncompromising lines.
"What promise had Valerie West made you ?" he asked, resolutely subduing his amazement and irritation.
For a moment Mrs.Collis hesitated; then, realising that matters had gone too far for concealment, she answered almost violently: "She promised me not to marry you,--if you must know! I can't help what you think about it; I realised that you were infatuated--that you were making a fatal and terrible mistake--ruining life for yourself and for your family--and I went to her and told her so! I've done all I could to save you.

I suppose I have gained your enmity by doing it.

She promised me not to marry you--but she'll probably break her word.

If you mean to marry her you'll do so, no doubt.