"The truth, you baggage... ?" He began and stopped in very fury.
She saw that she must tell him all.
"I promised to wed Mr.Wilding this day se'night so that he saved your life and honour," she told him calmly, and added, "It was a bargain that we drove." Richard continued to stare at her.

The thing she told him was too big to be swallowed at a mouthful; he was absorbing it by slow degrees.
"So now," said Diana, "you know the sacrifice your sister has made to save you, and when you speak of the apology Mr.Wilding tendered you, perhaps you'll speak of it in a tone less loud." But the sarcasm was no longer needed.

Already poor Richard was very humble, his make-believe spirit all snuffed out.

He observed at last how pale and set was his sister's face, and he realized something of the sacrifice she had made.

Never in all his life was Richard so near to lapsing from the love of himself; never so near to forgetting his own interests, and preferring those of Ruth.