“Passes? Why do you keep harping on that? Do you doubt your own power? A woman like you! Are you afraid of common women? You will never lose me as long as you are sure of yourself!”
“Then I have lost you already!” she whispered to the glass.
“What’s that?” he asked irritably.
She would not repeat it. “I shouldn’t so much mind about you,” she said slowly, “if I was sure that I could stay mad. That’s what I most dread, coming to myself!”
“You needn’t fear,” said Joe smiling. “I’ll undertake to hold you.”
Elaine continued to look out of the window.
Presently he said: “I suspect the real reason is, you think I’m not good enough for you . . . not that I blame you. . . .”
“That’s not it,” she said quickly.
“I have never put on any pretences with you. . . .”
“Oh, no!” she said bitterly.