"Yes," he said slowly, "but your act will also disgrace your family, your friends. You are willing to disgrace me?"
For three weeks conscience had demanded one attitude toward him, love another. "Please let's not speak of that!" she begged.
"You're willing to disgrace me?" he repeated.
She did not answer for a moment; then "Forgive me—I am," she whispered.
"And you're decided—absolutely determined?"
She nodded.
"My God, Helen!" he burst out, "to think that you, with open eyes, would destroy yourself and dishonour your father!"
"Forgive me!" she begged.
He turned to David, his face fierce with rageful contempt. "And Aldrich! Let me say one thing to you. Any man in your situation who would ask a decent woman to marry him is a damned cad!"
Helen raised a hand to stop the retort that was on David's lips. "It is I that insist on marriage—he refuses me," she said quietly.