"But, Theo, I couldn't leave you like that—just now, could I?"
His smile had a hint of scorn.
"Goodness knows! There is nothing to prevent you——"
"Yes—there is!" she spoke hurriedly, with downcast eyes. "Honor would never take me. She thinks it's dreadful that I should go. I never saw her so angry before. She—she said—terrible things——"
"Good God! What do—you—mean?"
Desmond spoke slowly. Anger and amazement sounded in his deep voice; and his wife saw what she had done.
"Theo!—Theo!" she cried, clasping her hands, and wringing them in distraction at her own foolishness, "I never meant to say that. I—I——"
"No—but you meant to do it," he said, breathing hard and speaking with an effort. "You actually thought of—going—before I came? You would have simply—bolted, and left me to come back to an empty house, if Honor had not prevented you? Great heavens! I can well believe she said terrible things."
His wife knelt upright now and caught at his hand. But he withdrew it hastily.
"Theo—will you listen to me and not be so angry? You are very unkind!"