"I couldn't help it. She—she did an impossible thing."
"After which you made her spend the evening with you! Even a Tristram must have had a reason for that."
"I've told you. I felt friendly and I wanted her to be friendly. And I like her. The whole thing's a ludicrous trifle." He paused a moment and added: "I'm sorry if she's distressed."
"You've made everything impossible—that's all."
"I don't understand. It so happens that to-day all sorts of things have begun to seem possible to me. Perhaps you've seen your uncle?"
"Yes, I have,—and—and it would have been splendid if you hadn't treated her as you did."
"You hint at something I know nothing about." He was growing angry again. "I really believe I could manage my own affairs." He returned to his pet grievance.
"You don't understand? Well, you will soon." She grew cooler as her mischievous pleasure in puzzling him overcame her wrath. "You'll know what you've done soon."
"Shall I? How shall I find it out?"