“Then why, in the name of all’s that abominable, did you do this thing?”
He licked his lips sullenly, flinching a little before her:
“Well, don’t you see—I knew you would see reason, that you would see that it can’t possibly be marriage. And as to providing for you, don’t you see I have so precious little for myself—and I have such awfully expensive tastes——”
“God!” she growled, stepping to him, with a sudden urging to strike him—“I could kill you.” And she added hoarsely: “I almost think I will.”
“Now, don’t be violent—I never know what to do when a woman is violent. In my family the women are never violent.... You see, Polly——”
“Don’t befoul my name by speaking it——”
He shrugged his shoulders:
“My dear girl, this melodramatic way of life is most repulsive to me—it makes me feel quite nervous and ill,” he added plaintively. “You used to be such a nice girl.”
She burst into laughter, miserable laughter, and wrung her hands:
“My God, this is awful!” she said.