"Thank you," she murmured, and added: "It was the least you could do."
At her last words he thought:
"Women are incapable of being magnanimous."
She moved towards the door.
"Hilda," he said.
She stopped.
"Come here," he commanded with gentle bluffness.
She wavered towards him.
"Come here, I tell you," he said again.
He drew her down to him, all fluttering and sobbing and wet, and kissed her, kissed her several times; and then, sitting on his knees, she kissed him. But, though she mysteriously signified forgiveness, she could not smile; she was still far too agitated and out of control to be able to smile.