"It is preying upon my mind." "Poor dear!" In sheer motherliness Miss Armytage put an arm about her cousin and drew her close.

"We must hope for the best." Now if you have understood anything of the character of Lady O'Moy you will have understood that the burden of a secret was the last burden that such a nature was capable of carrying.

It was because Dick was fully aware of this that he had so emphatically and repeatedly impressed upon her the necessity for saying not a word to any one of his presence.
She realised in her vague way--or rather she believed it since he had assured her--that there would be grave danger to him if he were discovered.

But discovery was one thing, and the sharing of a confidence as to his presence another.

That confidence must certainly be shared.
Lady O'Moy was in an emotional maelstrom that swept her towards a cataract.