"You mean to say you have put yourself into that fellow's power?" he
exclaimed.
"Not willingly! Oh, not willingly! I meant only kindness to him.
Yes, I have been weak, I know, and so foolish! It has gone on so
long.--You remember when I first saw him, at Ewell? I liked him,
just as a friend. Of course I behaved foolishly. It was my miserable
life--you know what my life was. But nothing happened--I mean, I
never thought of him for a moment as anything but an ordinary friend
--until I had my legacy."
The look on the listener's face checked her.
"I begin to understand," said Piers, with bitterness.
"No, no! Don't say that--don't speak like that!"
"It's not you I am thinking of, Mrs. Hannaford. As soon as money
comes in--. But tell me plainly. I have perfect confidence in what
you say, indeed I have."
"It does me good to hear you say that! I can tell you all, now that
I have begun. It is true, he _did_ ask me to go away with him, again
and again. But he had no right to do that--I was foolish in
showing that I liked him. Again and again I forbade him ever to see
me; I tried so hard to break off! It was no use. He always wrote,
wherever I was, sending his letters to Dr. Derwent to be forwarded.
He made me meet him at all sorts of places--using threats at last.
Oh, what I have gone through!"
"No doubt," said Piers gently, "you have lent him money?"
She reddened again; her head sank.
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