"What do you mean by 'in a way'?".
"Well—in a way that doesn't allow me to interfere with greater pleasures."
He went crimson.
"Oh, I say!" he said. "How unkind ... how awfully hard and unkind of you!"
"There mustn't be anything but truth in this talk between us, Morris. I'm sorry to seem unkind. I only said what I feel and believe."
"God! I didn't know you could be so cruel...." he muttered, staring at the fire.
"It isn't I that am cruel; it's the truth that's cruel," she said.
"You call that 'the truth'? ... God!" he said again.
"Then tell me...." she said. "What pleasure have you ever put second to me?"
"What ... pleasure?" he stammered.