"I am so sorry," murmured a soft and penitent voice almost in his ear.
After long indecision he asked, in dry tones and without turning to look at her:
"What made you say it?"
Her pause was longer than his. At length she answered:
"It wasn't idle curiosity."
"Then what was it?"
"I hardly know. Only it ... It seemed so dreadful."
"Dreadful?"
"I mean," she explained hastily, "it would be dreadful if you made a marriage like that. To say so is unpardonable impertinence on my part, no doubt. But, to be perfectly frank, I ... well, I suppose I've idealized you a little. You're not like other people I've met. And it shocked me to think of you settling down and, so to speak, giving up the fight."
"What fight?" asked the monk, not willing to help her out.