Out of breath, he strode back to The Study.
“Your conduct is abominable! You are shameless! I can well understand why your wretched Dempsi ran away, preferring to die in the bush than be any longer associated with such an infernal little termagant!”
The Selsburys were a courtly people, but there was a limit to their patience. He was savage, cruel, and knew he was behaving unpardonably before the words were out of his mouth.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered.
Her face was set, a mask that showed nothing of her thoughts.
“I’m extremely sorry. I shouldn’t have said that—please forgive me.”
Still she did not speak. Her eyes were tragic in their steadfast, unwinking gaze. He stole quietly from the room, and then she spoke her thoughts aloud.
“How absurd not to have the telephone connected with the study! I’ll write to the Post Office this very night.”
A very silent dinner. Gordon was going out and was resplendent in his raiment.