For the moment her self-possession had failed her. But now she had it in hand again. "If I have tried, naturally or artificially, I have made a failure—have I not?"
"It must be a novel experience for Mrs. Winthrop."
She turned away and looked at a portrait of Voltaire. After some moments, "Let us come back to the real point between us," she said, as he did not speak—"that is, your opinion of my little book."
"Is that the real point between us?"
"Of course it is. We will walk up and down Corinne's old rooms, and you shall tell me as we walk."
"Why do you force me to say unpleasant things?"
"They are unpleasant, then? I knew it! Unpleasant for me."
"For us both."
"For you, I doubt it. For me, they cannot be more unpleasant than the things you have already said. Yet you see I forgive them."
"Yes; but I have not forgiven you, Mrs. Winthrop."