"And you can't tell me why? Esther, that puts us such a long way apart. I thought we were to be everything to each other, in sorrow as well as happiness!"
"It is ungenerous of you to taunt me with that now, just because I will not gratify your curiosity."
She rose with an offended air, and made as if she would go to her room. He caught her by the wrist and held her. She turned on him almost fiercely!
"You are hurting me! Let me go!"
"Esther, you are very cruel to me to-night. Do you know that?"
"Have you been so kind that you can bring that accusation against me? But there, I won't quarrel with you, even though you seem to want to make me."
"I want to make you quarrel with me, Esther? You know that is not true. You wrong me, on my soul, you do!"
She began to cry again, and fell back into the chair.
"I know I do, I know I do! I cannot do anything right to-night. I can't even think, my brain seems asleep. Oh, forgive me, forgive me!"
He smoothed back her hair and kissed her on the forehead.