“I cannot believe that, Mary.”
“I was, I misjudged her. I struck her. She did not tell you that?”
“No,” said Perior, after the little pause his surprise allowed itself.
“I did, I struck her,” Mary repeated, with a certain placidity. “You understand?” she added.
Perior was putting two and two together; the result was clearly comprehensible.
“Yes, I understand,” he said.
“Camelia understood too.”
“Yes,” Perior repeated his assent, adding, “You have saved Camelia, Mary; I don’t think she can ever again be blind—or stupid.”
“Camelia—stupid?” Mary’s little smile was almost arch.
“That is the kindest word, isn’t it?” Perior smiled back at her, “Let us be kind, for we are all of us stupid—more or less; you very much less, dear Mary.”