But she knew that the very tone of her voice betrayed her.
“You only tell lies to me because I am helpless; you wouldn’t dare to do it if I were well and strong. You have not seen your mother to-day. She came here just after you left, and went home only half an hour ago.”
He lay down on his pillow, exhausted and breathing heavily.
With feverish anxiety Artemis searched her mind for another lie that would reconcile her own statement with the real facts. But she could find none.
“I have deceived you, Jason,” she said.
“I know, I know,” he said sorrowfully.
He did not ask her why, but turned his face to the wall. After a few moments’ silence, he said:
“You will find a letter on the mantelpiece: it is from your brother in London. When you told me that he was sending you money, I wrote to thank him. But he now asks what I mean. He says he has never sent you a penny, and cannot do so as his wife is seriously ill.”
Artemis sat down heavily.
“Don’t say anything unless you can tell me the truth,” went on Jason; “I will try to believe you had a good reason for what you have done.”