She had come to feel like that and yet, confession would be like a fiery torture.

Margaret had in some almost insane fashion come to feel that she might confess to a minister, a man of God, and ease her soul, without more.

And she had never been religious, and would have formerly smiled in serene scorn at her own state of mind.

And here was the other woman whom she had wronged, forbidding her this one little possibility of comfort.
She said again humbly, "Let me tell him, Annie.

He will only think the more of you because you shielded me." But Annie was full of scorn which Margaret could not understand since her nature was not so fine.