He started forward suddenly as if he would have taken her in his arms. She put up her hands to keep him off.
"No, no!" she cried. "I'm all right. I'm all right. It isn't that. You mustn't think it."
"I know it. That's why I came."
He came near again. He seized her struggling hands.
"Agatha, why can't we? Why shouldn't we?"
"No, no," she moaned. "We can't. We mustn't. Not that way. I don't want it, Rodney, that way."
"It shall be any way you like. Only don't beat me off."
"I'm not—beating—you—off."
She stood up. Her face changed suddenly.