It seemed to Hetta that even listening to such a proposition amounted to falsehood,--to that guilt of which Mr. Melmotte had dared to suppose that she could be capable. "I cannot listen to it. Indeed I cannot listen to it. My brother is sure that he cannot--cannot--"
"Cannot love me, Hetta! Say it out, if it is true."
"It is true," said Hetta. There came over the face of the other girl a stern hard look, as though she had resolved at the moment to throw away from her all soft womanly things. And she relaxed her hold on Hetta's waist. "Oh, my dear, I do not mean to be cruel, but you ask me for the truth."

"Indeed my brother is sure that he cannot - cannot-"
"Cannot love me, Hetta! Say it out, if it is true."
"It is true," said Hetta.
There came over the face of the other girl a stern hard look, and she relaxed her hold on Hetta's waist.
"Oh, my dear, I do not mean to be cruel, but you asked me for the truth."
