Bring her here." Robert's courage failed him: he trembled at the bare idea of exposing Isabel to the terrible ordeal that awaited her.

"Oh, my Lady!" he pleaded, "think again before you tell the poor girl that she is suspected of theft.

Keep it a secret from her--the shame of it will break her heart!" "Keep it a secret," said Lady Lydiard, "when the Rector and the Rector's wife both know of it! Do you think they will let the matter rest where it is, even if I could consent to hush it up?
I must write to them; and I can't write anonymously after what has happened.

Put yourself in Isabel's place, and tell me if you would thank the person who knew you to be innocently exposed to a disgraceful suspicion, and who concealed it from you?
Go, Moody! The longer you delay, the harder it will be." With his head sunk on his breast, with anguish written in every line of his face, Moody obeyed.

Passing slowly down the short passage which connected the two rooms, and still shrinking from the duty that had been imposed on him, he paused, looking through the curtains which hung over the entrance to the boudoir..