Penelope answered gently with perfect self-possession: “I'm afraid I have, doctor, I'm sorry to give you so much trouble.” And she smiled sweetly at Herrick.
The specialist drew up a chair and studied his patient thoughtfully. There was an added austerity in his usual professional manner.
“Captain Herrick tells me that you made some rather strange remarks just now?” he said tentatively.
Mrs. Wells met him with a look of half amused understanding.
“Did I?” she answered carelessly, and as she spoke she took up a pencil and made formless scrawls on a sheet of paper. “I suppose he refers to my calling him a fool. It is a little unusual, isn't it?”
She laughed in a mirthless way.
“Why did you do it?”
“I haven't any idea.”
“And you spoke unkindly to Seraphine? That isn't like you.”
“No? How do you know what I am like?” she answered quickly, her hand still fidgeting with the pencil.