Arlette came in, casting apprehensive glances at Kendall; she was unsmiling and had nothing to say beyond the greetings of the morning. Ken realized that he was in her disfavor.
“Arlette,” he said.
She paused in the door and, glancing up to his face quickly, let her eyes shift to the carpet. “Yes, monsieur,” she said.
“You’re angry with me.”
“Non, monsieur.”
“Yes you are. You should be. I’ve been a fool.”
She looked up again, this time scrutinizing his face more carefully. “Monsieur did not conduct himself with wisdom,” she said.
“What should I have done, Arlette?” He was really curious to know what she would answer.
“It is never wise to hurt where one is loved,” she said. “Also one should be sure that no mistake is made—”
“But it was a mistake, Arlette.... If you loved as you told me you did once, and the man you loved behaved as I did, what would you do? Would you forgive him?”