he said it, and the way he moved just a little from her, snapped her control.
“Oh, now you don’t understand,” she gasped, and she dropped her head into her hands, and began to sob.
Dane pulled himself together and put an arm about her shoulders. “I’m going to understand before I’m a day older. Stop crying, Valerie, dear. I can’t stand it.”
It was the irritation in his tone that helped her to control. He particularly loathed seeing a woman cry. And then he was annoyed with himself that after all his experience he should be as much at sea with a woman as he now felt he was with her.
“Dane, will you be frank with me? Because it’s all going to be spoiled—awful if you’re not.”
“As far as I know how to be, my dear, yes.”
“Why do you wish to marry me?”
“Why—why—because I care for you in the way I do, Because I want you to come and live with me.”
“You’re not thinking of my father, my family ———”
“What the hell do you mean, Valerie?” he said with a burst of anger that startled himself and her. “Good God! I thought you cared for me. What is the matter with me that I never can understand your sex? And honestly I did think you were above insult.”
He sprang to his feet and stumbled along to the bow and stood there looking away from her. He was so hurt that he was blind.
And Valerie saw how badly she had blundered. “Dane, will you please come back to me?” she called, struggling for control.
Because he was above foolish temper he turned almost at once and went slowly back and sat on the seat above her. She got up, and sitting very tensely with her hands gripped about her knees, she looked at him.
