“No,” she answered, drawing resentfully away from him, “there’s no use talking to you! He might be dying, or out of food, but you don’t think of anything but that money!”
“Well, maybe so,” he retorted tartly, “but if you’d just left me alone, instead of sicking all your dogs on me, I’d’ve been over there looking 229for him, long ago. Of course I’m wrong–that’s understood from the start; but─”
“What dogs did I set on you?” she demanded, flaring up, and he fixed her with sullen eyes.
“Never mind,” he said. “You know what you’ve done as well or better than I do. All I’ve got to say is that my conscience is clear and we’d better quit talking while we’re friends.”
“Yes–friends!” she repeated, and then she stopped and at last she heaved a sigh. “Well, I don’t care,” she defended. “You drove me to it. A woman must protect herself, somehow.”
“Well, you can do it,” he said, feeling tenderly of his head, and Virginia flew into a rage.
“I told you I was sorry!” she cried, stamping her foot. “Isn’t that enough? I’m sorry, I said!”
“Yes, and I’m sorry,” he answered, but his eyes were level and his jaw jutted out like a crag.
“Sorry for what?” she demanded, and he sprang his trap.
“Sorry I can’t go out and hunt for your father.”