He rallied from his surprise and raised his cap.
"Oh, that's all right," he said lightly.
"No; it wasn't right. I don't want to abuse people to their faces and behind their backs, when they don't deserve it. That isn't my way."
"But you couldn't be expected to know."
"I ought to have known."
"How?"
Phebe's cheeks grew scarlet. In her contrition, she had walked straight into the trap which she had meant to avoid. She was silent.
"How could you know?" he urged. "I don't think I look in the least like an invalid."
There was another silence, a long one, while he stood looking down at her curiously. Then she raised her eyes with an effort.
"I was the girl that ran into you," she said bluntly.