She was thinking of Templeton Thorpe, not of herself.
"I--I can't tell you how shocked, how grieved I am," he said.

"It is--terrible." She drew a few steps nearer.

"I want you to feel, Braden, that you are free to come and go--and to stay--in this house.

I know that you have said you would not come here while I am its mistress.

I am in no sense its mistress.