“I was afraid you’d throw me over.”
Tony shuddered with an uncontrollable feeling of repulsion. “Why did you want to play such low tricks on Kit?”
“I hated him.”
“Why? Because he opposed your getting into the Dealonian?”
“No, no, not that!” exclaimed Finch passionately. “I didn’t want to get into the Dealonian.”
“Then, why?” Tony was nonplussed.
“Because he had broke with you.”
At last to his humiliation—it dawned on Tony, the depth, the tragedy, of Finch’s affection; the complexity of his twisted, dwarfed nature; and anger and contempt were swallowed up in pity. He stood for a long time before the miserable lad without speaking.
“Well, Jake,” he said at length, “it is pretty bad—awful bad. I just hate to think of it.”
“What can I do?” asked Finch piteously.