"Then why—"
"Oh, how can I explain to you?" he exclaimed, rising in his turn. "It's just this—I must make another try, and to do that I must be free! You have the right to ask—what haven't you the right to ask! I'll tell you the truth—that's all I can do now. The girl I asked to marry me flung me off because—because—"
"Because of me?"
She bent forward, staring at him, as if she would wring the truth from his hesitation.
"Yes—because of you."
"And when was this? When was it, I ask you? Was it—before?"
"Yes."
"Then she had no grounds for what she said? She was wrong—she misjudged you—and then you came back to me!"
"Yes."
"Why—why?"