ItwasnotuntilthethirdmorningthatBenitawasallowedtolearnthetruth，whichindeeditwasimpossibletoconcealanylonger。Mr。
Thompsoncametohercabinandtoldhereverything，whileshelistenedsilently，horrified，amazed。”MissClifford，”hesaid，”Ithinkitwasoneofthebravestthingsthatamaneverdid。OntheshipIalwaysthoughthimratherahead-
in-airkindofswell，buthewasasplendidfellow，andIprayGodthathehaslived，astheladyandchildforwhomheofferedhimselfuphavedone，fortheyarebothwellagain。””Yes，”sherepeatedafterhimmechanically，”splendidfellowindeed，and，”sheadded，withastrangeflashofconviction，”Ibelievethathe/is/stillalive。IfheweredeadIshouldknowit。””Iamgladtohearyousayso，”saidMr。Thompson，whobelievedtheexactcontrary。”Listen，”shewenton。”Iwilltellyousomething。WhenthatdreadfulaccidentoccurredMr。Seymourhadjustaskedmetomarryhim，andI
wasgoingtoanswerthatIwould——becauseIlovehim。IbelievethatI
shallstillgivehimthatanswer。”