“It’s a case of serious illness,” he said.
“Do you mean to say you’re not coming to that dinner?” cried Caroline.
“Haven’t you any—heart?” demanded her cousin. “I tell you, someone is seriously ill....”
“What’s it got to do with you!” cried Caroline. “Who is it? Why won’t you tell me?”
When they looked back upon that episode later, it didn’t seem possible. That these two people, so dignified, so self-restrained, so civilized, should have said what they said to each other, should have enacted so disgraceful a scene!
“Who is this person that’s seriously ill?” Caroline demanded, again, with fierce contempt.
“It’s none of your business!” said Nick.
He was astounded, she was astounded, by such a phrase from him.
“All right!” said she. “Go to your waitress! Ah don’t care! But Ah won’t go to the dinner either! And Ah won’t send any word or make any excuses. You can do that to-morrow, in your office. You can explain to Mr. Anson why nobody came to his dinner party.”
“You couldn’t do such a—beastly, contemptible thing!” cried Nick in alarm. It was the special business of women to make excuses for men; they knew how; they had the art.... “Caroline, if you don’t, I’ll never forgive you!”