"He has been intimate enough with me to ask me to be his wife. He has
stood high enough in my estimation to obtain my consent. I can't tell
him to his face that he is the most contemptible of living creatures,
after that!"
"But, my dear Miss Rachel," I remonstrated, "it's equally impossible for
you to tell him that you withdraw from your engagement without giving
some reason for it."
"I shall say that I have thought it over, and that I am satisfied it
will be best for both of us if we part.
"No more than that?"
"No more."
"Have you thought of what he may say, on his side?"
"He may say what he pleases."
It was impossible not to admire her delicacy and her resolution, and it
was equally impossible not to feel that she was putting herself in the
wrong. I entreated her to consider her own position I reminded her that
she would be exposing herself to the most odious misconstruction of her
motives. "You can't brave public opinion," I said, "at the command of
private feeling."
"I can," she answered. "I have done it already."
"What do you mean?"
"You have forgotten the Moonstone, Mr. Bruff. Have I not braved public
opinion, THERE, with my own private reasons for it?"
Her answer silenced me for the moment.
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