His eyes twinkled.
"I'm afraid I'd tilt the scales—just a little—where you were concerned."
"Oh, I want you to do that," she answered with a smile. "Last fall I did something—well, it was foolish, though I wouldn't admit that to any one else. I was carried away by an impulse. Not that I regret. In the only really important way, I wouldn't undo it if I could—I think." Those last two words came absently, as if she were debating the matter with herself.
"If it's done and can't be undone," he said cheerfully, "I don't see that advice is needed."
"But—you don't understand." She seemed to be casting about for words. "As I said, it was last fall—here. In Saint X there was a man—and he and I—we'd cared for each other ever since we were children. And then he went away to college. He did several things father didn't like. You know how older people are—they don't make allowances. And though father's the gentlest, best—at any rate, he turned against Jack, and—"
Scarborough abruptly went to the window and stood with his back to her.
After a pause Pauline said, in a rush, "And he came here last fall and we got married."
There was a long silence.
"It was DREADFUL, wasn't it?" she said in the tone of one who has just made a shocking discovery.
Scarborough did not answer.