"Oh, child, why did you do it? What could have driven you to it?" she asked.
The shadow of a slow and subtle smile crept for a moment about Deirdre's lips and vanished again.
"If only you'd have told me your trouble," Mrs. Cameron cried. "I might have been able to help you."
"Oh no, you wouldn't," Deirdre said.
"You couldn't have married McNab for any reason of choice." Mrs. Cameron was torn between grief, bewilderment and compassion. "Davey is breaking his heart about it, out on the hills somewhere, now. I had to tell him when he came in, for fear—What's to be done about it, Deirdre? Oh, I'm not wanting to blame you. You did it for a good reason, I'm sure, and you love Davey. It's hard on you, Deirdre. You do love him?"
"Yes," Deirdre said slowly.
Mrs. Cameron knelt beside the chair. Her hands trembled on the girl's arm.
"Don't touch me," Deirdre gasped, moving out of the reach of her hands. "Don't touch me," she whispered again, eyeing her strangely.
"Davey—I'm afraid what he'll do if he sees you...." Mrs. Cameron hesitated.
Deirdre sprang out of the chair, her eyes blazing.