"I ought to be afraid for you."
"Don't. Don't be afraid. The more dangerous it is the better I shall like it."
"I don't know. It was bad enough in all conscience for you and Colin. It'll be worse for us if we're found out. Of course we shan't be found out, but there's always a risk. And it would be worse for you than for me, Anne."
"I don't care. I want it to be. Besides, it won't. It'll be far worse for you because of Maisie. That's the only thing that makes it wrong."
"Don't think about that, darling."
"I don't. If it's wrong, it's wrong. I don't care how wrong it is if it makes you happy. And if God's going to punish either of us I hope it'll be me."
"God? The God doesn't exist who could punish you."
"I don't care if he does punish me so long as you're let off."
She came over to him and slid to the floor and crouched beside him and laid her head against his knees. She clasped his knees tight with her arms.
"I don't want you to be hurt," she said. "I can't bear you to be hurt.
But what can I do?"