"What do you mean?"
Captain Willoughby turned with surprise to his companion.
"A man may live in the Soudan and even yet not be wholly ignorant of
women and their great quality of forgiveness. You gave the feathers back
to Feversham in order that he might redeem his honour. That is evident."
Ethne sprang to her feet before Captain Willoughby had come to the end
of his sentence, and stood a little in front of him, with her face
averted, and in an attitude remarkably still. Willoughby in his
ignorance, like many another stupid man before him, had struck with a
shrewdness and a vigour which he could never have compassed by the use
of his wits. He had pointed out abruptly and suddenly to Ethne a way
which she might have taken and had not, and her remorse warned her very
clearly that it was the way which she ought to have taken. But she could
rise to the heights. She did not seek to justify herself in her own
eyes, nor would she allow Willoughby to continue in his misconception.
She recognised that here she had failed in charity and justice, and she
was glad that she had failed, since her failure had been the opportunity
of greatness to Harry Feversham.
"Will you repeat what you said?" she asked in a low voice; "and ever so
slowly, please.
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