"We who have always been such good friends and had such good times together?"
Alice looked away from him and gave no answer.
"Even if I have behaved foolishly, we two surely know each other too well for that to separate us?"
"There are limits to everything," he heard her say.
He was silent for a moment. "Limits? limits? Come now, Alice. Between us there is surely no—"
Before he could say more she broke out: "It is inexcusable to behave in such a way before other people!" She was scarlet.
"Yes. You mean?" He did not understand.
She turned away. "To treat me in such a manner before Mary——what must Mary think?"
Never until now had it occurred to him that he had behaved badly to her, to Alice, too; all this time he had thought only of Mary. Now, ashamed of himself, dreadfully ashamed of himself, he came forward.
"Will you pardon me, Alice? I was so happy that I did not think. I didn't understand till this moment. Forgive a poor sinner! Won't you look at me?"