"Leave the room," said Hunt.
He pointed towards the door. Katherine, who had come close to him, started back.
"What does this mean?"
"Leave the room; I cannot bear your presence just now. I will come to you by-and-by."
Then she saw that she had caused some emotion within him too mighty to be held down. She knew he wanted solitude, and she left him. She went into her little private sitting-room—the one where she had seen Kitty Hepworth that morning—and there she fell on her knees. She did not sob, but she prayed.
In about a quarter of an hour Hunt came in. His face was quite white.
"Let us talk about pros and cons," he said.
Katherine pushed a chair towards him.
"What a dear daddy you are!" she said. "Few would treat my wilfulness as you are doing."
He winced when she said a tender word.