His vision of the gentle thing, rising up in that sudden sacred fury of protection, moved him to admiring, tender laughter. It made Anne burst into tears.
"Oh, Jerrold, that's the worst that's happened yet. Everybody'll cut her, because of me."
"Bless you, she won't care. She says she doesn't care about anybody but you and me."
"But that's the awful thing, her caring. That's the punishment. The punishment."
Again he took her in his arms and comforted her.
"What am I to do, Jerry? What am I to do?"
"Go to her," he said, "and say something nice."
"Go to her and take my punishment?"
"Well, yes, darling, I'm afraid you've got to take it. We can't have it both ways. It wouldn't be a punishment if you weren't so sweet, if you didn't mind so. I wish to God I'd never told you."
She held her head high.