"I shall say it," Lydia went on, "and to you, because you are the only person I can say it to. Oh, you knew very well how it would be! I have to sit silent while Eleanor tells me how noble your motives were in prosecuting me. You know—oh, you are so safe in knowing—that I will not tell anyone that your hatred of me goes back to that evening when I did not show myself susceptible to your fascinations when you tried to kiss me, and I——"
"I did kiss you," said O'Bannon.
"I believe you did, but——"
"You know I did."
She sprang up at this.
"And is that something you're proud of, something it gives you satisfaction to remember?"
"The keenest."
She stamped her foot.
"That you kissed a woman against her will? Held her in your arms because you were physically stronger? You like to remember——"
"It was not against your will," he said.