"That's a silly thing to say," he answered coolly. "You know what I mean. I don't intend to give your father and the other men a chance to throw 'thief' in my teeth. When I've cleared myself I'll walk with you openly."
"I was sorry," she said like a child. "I couldn't rest until I had told you."
Jack was silent and uncomfortable. Whenever she sounded the pathetic and childlike note, the male in him must needs feel the pull of compassion and he resented it.
"Don't you care for me any more?" she murmured.
Jack frowned, and aimed a tremendous blow at the tree.
Real terror crept into her voice. "Jack," she faltered.
"I don't take anything back," he said stubbornly. "I'll tell you when I feel like telling you, but I won't have it dragged out of me."
He returned to his tree, and she prodded the pine needles with the toe of her boot. After a while she returned to the charge.
More like a child than ever, she said: "Jack, I acted like a little beast. But I said I was sorry."
"That's all very well," said Jack, "but you can't expect to make me so mad I can't see straight, and then have it all right again just for the asking."