She spoke calmly, evenly, with the utmost self-possession.
"I can't let you go like this, Alix! I can't take this as final. You—you MUST care for me. How can I think otherwise? In God's name, what has happened to turn you against me? You owe me more of an explanation than—"
"You are right," she interrupted. "I do owe you an explanation. This is not the time or the place to give it. If you will come to see me tomorrow, I will tell you everything. It is only fair that you should know. But not now."
"Has some one been lying about me?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing.
She waited an instant before replying.
"No, Mr. Thane," she said; "no one has been lying about you."
He took up his hat from the table.
"I will come tomorrow," he said. At the door he paused to say: "But I am not going to give you up, Alix. You mean too much to me. I think I understand. You are frightened. I—I should not have come here."
"Yes, I WAS frightened," she cried out shrilly. "I was frightened,—but I am not afraid now."
She had moved to Thane's side of the table, and there she stood until she heard his footsteps on the little porch outside.