Shall I tell you, Bawn, what Joan told me before she died ?" "If it eases you." "I have to share it with some one, and I can trust you not to think hardly of my poor Joan." I wondered what was coming, but I had not long to wait.

My godmother looked at me again, straight into my eyes, as though she would see to the depths of my soul.
"I have forgiven her, poor dear soul, with all my heart," she said.

"If I thought you could judge her hardly I would not tell you; but I think you will not judge her hardly.

You see, she loved Luke.

He had a way with women.