GRINNIDGE: "Smashed my pipe. Dozed off and let it drop on this
infernal register."

RANSOM, turning from the register with impressive deliberation:
"Miss Reed, may I ask HOW you came to know that his name was
Gummidge, or Grimmidge, or whatever I called him?"

SHE: Oh, dearest, I CAN'T tell you! Or--yes, I had better."
Impulsively: "I will judge you by myself. _I_ could forgive YOU
anything!"

HE, doubtfully: "Oh, could you?"

SHE: "Everything! I had--I had better make a clean breast of it.
Yes, I had. Though I don't like to. I--I listened!"

HE: "Listened?"

SHE: "Through the register to--to--what--you--were saying before
you--came in here." Her head droops.

HE: "Then you heard everything?"

SHE: "Kill me, but don't look SO at me! It was accidental at first-
-indeed it was; and then I recognized your voice; and then I knew you
were talking about me; and I had so much at stake; and I did love you
so dearly! You WILL forgive me, darling? It wasn't as if I were
listening with any bad motive."