"
"Yes." The words choked her, but she spoke them--"I am grateful to
you for that. But if she found me talking to you again--especially if
she knew you came here to see me, she would send me away at once. She
told me so."
"How is she to know?"
"The children--"
"I'll take care of that."
"You can't prevent it. In any case--"
Bob said bitterly: "In any case! Yes, that's it. In any case you hate
the sight of me."
She cried: "Oh, why will you speak like that? I mean that in any case
it is not right. I promised."
Bob laughed. "If that's all, it is all right. You didn't promise for
me."
"It makes no difference. You say you are sorry--I believe you are
sorry. You can only show it one way. Mr. Chater, please leave me
alone."
Her pretty appeal was fatal to her desire. It enhanced her graces. In
both phrase and tone it was different from similar request in the
petulant mouths of those ladies amongst whom Bob purchased his way.
Dissatisfied, they would have said "Oh, chuck it! Do!" But "Mr.
Chater, please leave me alone!"--that had the effect of moving Mr.
Chater a degree closer along the seat.
He said: "You shan't have cause to blame me. Look here, you haven't
asked me to explain my conduct on Friday."
"I don't wish you to."
"Don't you want to know?"
She shook her head.
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