She never alluded to that knowledge, never corrected the half-lie which accompanies so many whispered self--accusations.

Confidences and confessions are too often a means of evasion of justice--a laying of the case for the plaintiff before a judge without allowing the defendant to be present or to call a witness.

Rachel, by dint of long experience, which did slowly for her the work of imagination, had ceased to wonder at the faithfully chronicled harsh words and deeds of generous souls.
She knew or guessed at the unchronicled treachery or deceit which had brought about that seemingly harsh word or deed.
She had not the exalted ideas about her fellow-creatures which Hester had, but she possessed the rare gift of reticence.

She exemplified the text--"Whether it be to friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives." And in Rachel's quiet soul a vast love and pity dwelt for these same fellow-creatures.

She had lived and worked for years among those whose bodies were half starved, half clothed, degraded.