She was eager and excited, bold, and yet somewhat baffled.
He was nervous and uncomfortable, while fidgeting with a letter in his fingers.
"He has made a rather sporting offer, don't you think?" she asked with biting sarcasm, her eyes studying his face.
"What are you going to do?"
"Surely!—that's for you to say."
"Me?" (irritably).
"Of course. You know that he and I parted long ago over incompatibility of temper, and that his offer is made only to save his precious honour. He has heard rumours! There is no love in it; instead, it is carefully ruled out. I may return to his protection whenever I like; but as his wife only in name."
"It will be better than this knock-about sort of life you have led, with an allowance wholly inadequate to your needs" (conciliatingly).
"But is there nothing else in life for a young woman of my years and temperament? What about you and me?" (tenderly).
Meredith reddened as he said resolutely, "That page will have to be turned down for good, in the fullest sense of the word."