"But conditions are homicidal in my father's factory, are they not?"
"Oh," said the man ... "Well, as to that--of course opinions would differ somewhat as to what consti--"
"You seem to--to have more courage in your opinions when you're writing letters," she flung at him, bright cheeked.... "Are they homicidal?"
V. Vivian's eyes had fallen before her indignant gaze. It was only too clear by now that she hadn't forgiven him--what wonder?--and probably never would.... Still, when he raised his eyes again, the girl saw in them a look quite different from what she had meant to arouse there. The man was feeling sorry for her again....
"Miss Heth, I consider them homicidal. I'm sorrier than I can say to--to worry you with all this now. Some day if you could give me--"
"You mustn't say these things to me," said Carlisle, feeling her anger to be real enough now. "I won't permit them. And--"
"You don't imagine that I say them for pleasure," the tall doctor interrupted hurriedly. "I'm compelled to speak the truth, however disagreeable--"
"Indeed? I've not noticed that you feel bound by any necessity that way."
To that he made no reply at all. But she saw, by the look he wore, that he was doing his best to convict her once again of having said something unfair and rather cheap and horrid....
Turning from him, she delivered the coup de grâce, in a voice not quite so firm as she would have wished: