But now, behind the passive defiance, grave rather than sullen, which she presented to his attack, the weakness, the helplessness, the heart pain of the woman were plain.
He discerned them, and while he hungered for a more explicit denial, for a cry of indignant protest, for a passionate repudiation, he found some comfort in that look.

And his heart spoke.

"I do not believe it!" he cried impetuously, in perfect forgetfulness of the fact that he had not put his charge into words.

"I do not--I will not! Only say that it is false! And I will say no more." Her answer was as cold water thrown upon him.

"I will tell you nothing," she answered.
"Why not?
Why not ?" he cried.
"You ask why not," she answered slowly.