MrGilmoreistheoldandtriedfriendoftwogenerationsofFairlies，andwecantrusthim，aswecouldtrustnooneelse。’
Themarriage-settlement！Themerehearingofthosetwowordsstungmewithajealousdespairthatwaspoisontomyhigherandbetterinstincts。
Ibegantothink——itishardtoconfessthis，butImustsuppressnothingfrombeginningtoendoftheterriblestorythatInowstandcommittedtoreveal——Ibegantothink，withahatefuleagernessofhope，ofthevaguechargesagainstSirPercivalGlydewhichtheanonymouslettercontained。
Whatifthosewildaccusationsrestedonafoundationoftruth？Whatiftheirtruthcouldbeprovedbeforethefatalwordsofconsentwerespoken，andthemarriage-settlementwasdrawn？Ihavetriedtothinksince，thatthefeelingwhichthenanimatedmebeganandendedinpuredevotiontoMissFairlie’sinterests，butIhaveneversucceededindeceivingmyselfintobelievingit，andImustnotnowattempttodeceiveothers。Thefeelingbeganandendedinreckless，vindictive，hopelesshatredofthemanwhowastomarryher。
`Ifwearetofindoutanything，’Isaid，speakingunderthenewinfluencewhichwasnowdirectingme，`wehadbetternotletanotherminuteslipbyusunemployed。Icanonlysuggest，oncemore，theproprietyofquestioningthegardenerasecondtime，andofinquiringinthevillageimmediatelyafterwards。’