He dropped her hand and tilted his head incredulously.
"Through it all! What do you mean?"
"I've been here for a month."
"A month! You've been here a month and this is the first time you've come to see me?"
"I didn't think it best to come before."
"You've been here while I've been passing through hell itself? You've known about me, known how I've suffered? Have you?"
"Oh, Ned, I have...."
"And you didn't come to me when I needed help most! You've not even taken the trouble to find out about me—"
"You're wrong there," Ann broke in simply. With the return of his old, petulant, irritating manner, the wistfulness slipped from her and a little show of independence, of resentment, came over the woman. "I have known about you; I've kept track of you; I've waited and prayed for the time when it would be best for me to see you...."
He folded his arms theatrically and swung one leg over the corner of the table. Ann stopped talking on that, for his attitude was one of open challenge.