What Mr Palliser might think of herself, Alice cared but little.
But then there came to her an idea that was in every respect feminine,--that in such a matter she had no right to betray her friend.

When one woman tells the story of her love to another woman, the confidant always feels that she will be a traitor if she reveals the secret.

Had Lady Glencora made Alice believe that she meditated murder, or robbery, Alice would have had no difficulty in telling the tale, and thus preventing the crime.

But now she hesitated, feeling that she would disgrace herself by betraying her friend.

And, after all, was it not more than probable that Glencora had no intention of carrying out a threat the very thought of which must be terrible to herself?
As she was thinking of all this, sitting in her dressing-gown close over the fire, there came a loud knock at the door, which, as she had turned the key, she was forced to answer in person.