Her unexpected opposition fanned his smouldering wrath to a blaze. He took her by the shoulder—not roughly, but very decisively.
"Impossible! What am I to understand by that?"
It was the first time he had touched her untenderly; and she quivered in every nerve.
"I—I don't know. I can't explain. But—it's true."
For one instant he stood speechless;—then:
"Great Heavens, Evelyn!" he broke out, "don't you see that you are forcing upon me a suspicion that is an insult to us both?"
She looked up at him in blank bewilderment, then jerked herself free from his hand.
"I—I don't understand what you mean. But if you will think horrid things of me you may. I can't explain and—I won't!"
"You—won't," Desmond repeated slowly, frozen incredulity in his eyes; and she, fearing she had gone too far, caught at the hand she had shaken off.
"Oh, Theo, what does it matter after all?" she urged between irritation and despair, "when you know quite well it's you—that I love?"