"Leave her alone," he said, "she doesn't want to be bothered about it now."
Kitty's hand moved back along the couch to Jane. "No," she said, "don't make her leave me. I'm going away soon."
He started to that answer to his question, "What next?"
"Tell me what made you do it?" said Jane again.
"Whatever it was," he said, "she's doing perfectly right."
"I know what she's doing. And I know why she's doing it. Can't you see why?"
Robert, who had stood still looking at her helplessly, turned away at the direct appeal and walked up and down, up and down, the room. He was still saying to himself, "And if she goes, what next?"
"She doesn't mean it, Robert. It's these wretched people who have driven her to it with the abominable things they've said and thought. You can't let her give you up. Don't you see that it'll look as if you didn't believe in her? And he does believe in you, Kitty dear. He doesn't care what anybody says."
Kitty spoke. "Leave it alone, Janey. You don't know what you're talking about. You don't even know what it is they say."
"I do," said Jane. She rose and went to her brother and thrust the letter she held into his hand. "Look there, that came just now."