Then he had been watching us. The tone of his voice warned me. Again, I should have to lie.
“Couldn’t stand it; had to break away.”
“Why?”
It was black as pitch—thank heaven for that—but I felt as though through the obscurity his hot eyes were watching the tortured agitation on my face.
“It’s not in my mood,” I said rapidly. “Should think you’d understand. My God—with the Governor there—the thought of going back in a few weeks—of all that is coming to us—this dancing and merry-making before—”
“David, are you lying to me?”
His hand closed over my wrist, and the phrase died on my lips.
“Ben!”
“For God’s sake, tell me the truth! What was there between you and Letty?”
What would I not have given to have bared my conscience to him; but it was not my life alone that was at stake. There was the good name of the family. For a moment, I felt lost in a sickly weakness, and hideous possibilities seemed to strike at me out of the darkness. Then I recovered myself. I began to act. I acted as I had never done before in my life. I caught him by the shoulders and shook him.