"Yes." His voice was a little dreary. "Yes—all that."
She sat tight-lipped, trying to feel more angry than she did, ("Be very angry" was item two on the agenda).
"I'm sorry that you had to know, you are so young and these things are very shocking to a good woman. Lola has gone back to her people. Naturally, I did not wish to appear in a police court, but there was a conspiracy to send this girl to prison. A late friend of mine was in it. I had to go to the court and tell the truth."
"I think it was very fine of you," she echoed Christina's words, but was wanting in Christina's enthusiasm.
"Fine? I don't know. It was a great nuisance. I have an unpleasant feeling about courts."
He rubbed his chin; Evie saw nothing remarkable in the gesture.
"Of course, Ronnie," she began, laboring under the disadvantage of calmness, for she could not feel angry, "this makes a difference. I was prepared to sacrifice everything—my good name and what people thought about me—it was horrible of you, Ronnie—to take that girl into the country when—when you knew me. I can't forgive that, Ronnie."
He stood by his table, his white hand drumming silently.
"Did you come alone?" he asked.
She hesitated.