"I only asked—"
"Don't want help—don't want to talk!" Snyder broke in, in the same embittered tone.
"Not to me?" said Doré gently.
Snyder drew a long breath, and turned to her swiftly, with an appealing look, in which, however, there was no weakness.
Then she laid her finger across her lips.
"Here—breakfast is ready; sit down!"
"Snyder, I don't understand you; you hurt me!" said Doré, opening her eyes.
The woman stood a moment, locking and unlocking her hands, swinging from foot to foot.
"Can't help it. You can't make me over. I've got my rut!" She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm damned unsociable—perhaps I'd better dig out."
"Snyder!" exclaimed Doré, bounding to her side. She took her in her arms, crying: "Why, it was only to help you!"