"Quite!"
It occurred to me then that there was no use trying to keep fate's name out of this conversation—and also it came to me that the orchids were no longer a mystery—but before I could make up my mind to mention this he turned to me ferociously.
"You did make a fool of me!" he accused.
My heart began thumping again.
"What do you mean?" I began, but he cut me short.
"It is this that I can not get over! The thought has come to me that perhaps if I might hear you acknowledge it, I might be able to forgive you better."
He leaned toward me.
"If you don't mind, I should like to hear you say: 'Maitland Tait, I did make a fool of you!'"
"But I didn't!" I denied stoutly, while my face flushed, and all the fighting blood in me seemed to send forth a challenge from my cheeks. "I'll say what I do think, however, if you wish to hear it!"