A weight of doubt and wonder pressed on my heart like a load of ice.
Why had John wanted to conceal from me his acquaintance with Rachel Leonard?
Why had they both been so strangely moved at meeting?
I longed to ask a question; but I could not find my voice.

I longed for John to speak, and tell me something--anything at all that he liked; and were it the strangest puzzle that ever failed to be unriddled, I swore to my own heart that I would believe him.
"Margery," said John, speaking as if in answer to my thought--and he came nearer to me, for we had walked a little apart, and drew my hand through his arm, and looked down in my face--"Margery," he said, "look me straight in the eyes," and I looked, and saw them full of grievous trouble.
"You are blaming me in your heart," he said, "and saying to yourself that I have deceived you.

Will you trust me that I did not mean to do so?
I have got a cruel shock, dearest, and I beg of you to be kind and forbearing with me.

I owe you an explanation, and I will give it the earliest moment I can.

I cannot till I see further.