‘Pooh! Well, if you didn’t wish to come to Trantridge why did you come?’
She did not reply.
‘You didn’t come for love of me, that I’ll swear.’
‘’Tis quite true. If I had gone for love o’ you, if I had ever really loved ’ee, if I loved you still, I should not so loathe and hate myself for my weakness as I do now!’
He shrugged his shoulders. She resumed—
‘I didn’t understand your meaning till it was too late.’
‘That’s what every woman says.’
‘How can you dare to use those words!’ she cried, turning impetuously upon him, her eyes flashing as the latent spirit (of which he was to see more some day) awoke in her. ‘My God! I could knock you out of the gig! Did it never strike your mind that what every woman says some women may feel?’
‘Very well,’ he said, laughing; ‘I am sorry to wound you. I did wrong—I admit it.’ He dropped into some little bitterness as he continued: ‘Only you needn’t be so everlastingly flinging it in my face. I am ready to pay to the
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