He helped her in, knowing that she disapproved of him. A natural premonition told him that she would not be desirous of meeting him again unless he could convince her he was aware of his error and regretted it. He was distinctly taken with her, more now than ever that her fastidiousness made her difficult. He leant toward her and spoke almost anxiously.
"I'd like to meet you again. Can't you dine with me one night before you go? I'm sorry if I've offended you.... I made a mistake. I thought you were Maggy's sort."
The apology, so disloyal to Maggy, as well as insulting to herself, inflamed her.
"You unspeakable cad!" she said.
Woolf returned to Maggy rather red in the face. She had left the restaurant and was waiting for him in her sitting-room. She was afraid to reproach him, and yet anxious that he should know he had blundered. She was terribly disappointed.
"You shocked Lexie," she told him, and waited to see what he would say.
He made no answer.
"You thought her pretty?" she went on.
Woolf was biting his finger-nails savagely.
"Didn't you?" she persisted.