She drew back as she replied coldly:
"You know it, and last night you told me of it."
"But last night—"
"And so the fact remains that you did buy me!" Pointing to the boxes of jewels heaped high on the table, she went on: "And these are the things you bought me with! These are the things you bought me with—I give them all back to you!"
"Virginia!" he cried appealingly.
Calmly she went on:
"You bought me, but you didn't buy my self-respect. And no matter what happens I am going to keep that."
"It's the last thing in the world that I'd have you lose," he said with some show of emotion.
"Then why do you try to rob me of it? Why did you come to me—as you did last night—and insult and degrade me?"
"I'm sorry, dear."