"Your conscience seems to say more than I should venture to," said Angela, smiling.
"I had an engagement, as I wrote in my letter."
"One that could not be broken?"
"To tell the truth, I was not in an amiable mood. If I had come I should probably have hurt their feelings more than by staying away. I should have said something savage. Well,"—as he saw her lips move—"what were you going to say?"
"Something very severe."
"Say it by all means."
"That you are trying to excuse your own selfishness by the plea of want of self-control. The excuse is worse than the action itself."
"I am very selfish, I know," said Percival, complacently. "I'm not at all ashamed of it. Why should I not consult my own comfort?"
"Why should you add one drop to the bitterness of Brian's cup?"
"I like that," said Percival, in an ironical tone. "It shows the extent of a woman's sense of justice. I beg your pardon, Miss Vivian, for saying so. But in my opinion Brian is a lucky fellow."