"Don't call me that."
"Why not? You are my cousin after a fashion."
"I am not, and I don't want to be."
Captain Keith coloured.
"Come," he said, "this is serious. I did not think—I mean when you were—yes, cross at dinner, I did not suppose that it would last. But you use words which it is difficult to understand. What have I done to offend you, Katherine? Have we not always been good friends?"
"What have you done?" she answered. She trembled all over, and in her agitation blurted out words which she had thought never to utter. "You are false, and I thought you true," she said. "Why did you lead me to believe—"
"Hush!" he said sternly. He laid his hand for a moment on hers. "Little girl, you will say something which you will regret all your life. Don't talk to me while you are angry. Recover your self-control; then I will listen as long as ever you please."
"Oh yes, my pain is nothing to you!"
"I beseech you to exercise self-control. Do be silent for the present, I beg, I implore of you."
"What do you mean?" she said. "Your manner frightens me."