AN INTERLUDE
"Oh!"
There was a moment's pause. She looked squarely into his face, her eyes alight with anger and contempt, and perhaps he flushed a little. He stroked his moustache, and by an effort maintained his cynical calm. "Let us be reasonable," he said.
"Reasonable! That means all that is mean and cowardly and sensual in the world."
"You have always had it so—in your generalising way. But let us look at the facts of the case—if that pleases you better."
With an impatient gesture she motioned him to go on.
"Well," he said,—"you've eloped."
"I've left my home," she corrected with dignity. "I left my home because it was unendurable. Because that woman———"
"Yes, yes. But the point is, you have eloped with me."
"You came with me. You pretended to be my friend. Promised to help me to earn a living by writing. It was you who said, why shouldn't a man and woman be friends? And now you dare—you dare———"
"Really, Jessie, this pose of yours, this injured Innocence———"
"I will go back. I forbid you—I forbid you to stand in the way———"
"One moment. I have always thought that my little pupil was at least clear-headed. You don't know everything yet, you know. Listen to me for a moment."
73
