Soon after that she left him, not, however, till she had told him that she would meet him again at dinner, and had begged him to treat her simply as a friend. "In spite of everything, I hope that we may always be friends,--dear friends," she said.
"I hope we may," he answered;--"the very dearest." And then he left her.
In the afternoon he again encountered Mr. Palliser, and having thought over the matter since his interview with Alice, he resolved to tell his whole story to his new acquaintance,--not in order that he might ask for counsel from him, for in this matter he wanted no man's advice,--but that he might get some assistance. So the two men walked off together, up the banks of the clear-flowing Reuss, and Mr. Palliser felt the comfort of having a companion.
"I have always liked her," said Mr. Palliser, "though, to tell the truth, I have twice been very angry with her."
"I have never been angry with her," said the lover.
"And my anger was in both instances unjust. You may imagine how great is my confidence in her, when I have thought she was the best companion my wife could have for a long journey, taken under circumstances that were--that were--; but I need not trouble you with that."

Soon after that she left him; not, however, till she had begged him to treat her simply as a friend. "In spite of everything, I hope that we may always be dear friends," she said.
"I hope we may," he answered; "the very dearest."
In the afternoon he again met Mr. Palliser, and resolved to tell his whole story to his new acquaintance - not in order to ask for advice, but so that he might get some assistance. So the two men walked off together, and Mr. Palliser felt the comfort of having a companion.
"I have always liked her," said Mr. Palliser, "though, to tell the truth, I have twice been very angry with her."
"I have never been angry with her," said the lover.
"And my anger was unjust both times. You may imagine how great is my confidence in her, when I have thought she was the best companion my wife could have for a long journey, under circumstances that were - but I need not trouble you with that."
