She sat back in the depths of her chair and turned her white face up to his; a great sadness and a great yearning showed in the beautiful eyes.
“I think you make too much of it,” she said... “The accident of a moment!”
“An accident that ruined my career,” he returned with great bitterness.
“Not ruined it,” she expostulated,—“checked it. You could have made a name and a place for yourself in spite of it.”
“And I didn’t.”
“And you have not,” she corrected,—“yet.”
He laughed abruptly.
“Think of the time that has been wasted,” he said. “You might have said all this to me years ago. I don’t say it would have made any difference... unless it were to keep green some corner of my heart. But encouragement to be efficacious should be given when life is hardest, not when one has learnt to adapt it to one’s needs. But it’s generous of you to offer even a belated encouragement. I don’t wish to appear ungrateful. It’s more than I have deserved—or, indeed, expected of you.”
She stretched out a hand and laid it on his arm.
“Don’t be bitter, Hugh... We both have made mistakes.”