"It wasn't me. Would I have meddled? Do you remember how you said you must be free?"
"And you said I never could be, and it's true!"
"And was that all?"
"Yes, I went back to bed, but there was someone. What is it?" She felt how he had stiffened. "Your hand's not loving me. What is it?"
"It's Janet, the witch—the witch! It was that night I told her, and she threatened me with her tricks. Theresa, was it then you knew you didn't love that man? Could you not learn it for yourself?"
"I did, I did." He saw the swift lines of her throat as she raised her head. He knew how she would look when she was angered.
"I had your letter for a pillow. Before I slept I knew I couldn't marry him. I was only waiting to tell him in the morning, and I was yours that night. It happened—that strange thing happened, after I knew—after! How dare you think I didn't choose to do it!"
For a long time he looked at her. He had forgotten nothing of her face.
"It's not easy to believe you're all you are," he told her slowly.
She laughed again on her low note of joy.