She extended her bare hand and he held it without protest. It was trembling violently.
"You were going to leave without an effort to see me?" she asked in low tones.
"I was just debating that problem when I saw you standing by the road," he answered soberly. "I don't think I could have done it. It's several hours before we embark. I was just figuring on how I could reach you in time."
"Really?" she murmured.
"Honestly."
"Well, if you had gone without a word, I couldn't have blamed you"—she paused and bit her lips—"I was very foolish that day."
"It was my fault," he broke in, "all my fault. I was a brute. I realized it too late. I'd have eaten my pride and gone back to see you the day I reached Washington if I had thought it any use. I have never seen such a look in the eyes of a woman as you gave me that day, Miss Betty. If there had been any love in your heart I knew that I had killed it——"
She looked into his eyes with a tender smile:
"I thought you had——"
He pressed her hand tenderly.