'Well, the way you come to me the moment his back's turned, makes me look pretty cheap,' she said dispassionately.
'How can I talk to you before him? Be fair, Norah.'
'Is there anything to talk about?' she asked. 'Isn't all as bad as we can make it without more talk?'
'All right,' said Dick, 'I'll go back to the wood-cutting. If you'd rather talk to Sinclair...'
'Oh! Dick,' she cried. 'Don't let's quarrel. It's horrible enough, without that!'
'Our love's horrible?'
'I didn't mean that. The world's horrible; life's ugly, cruel. I thought I was finding something beautiful, and all I've done is to hurt, betray, spoil....'
Dick's jealousy boiled over.
'What makes you suddenly so careful of Sinclair's feelings?' he asked. 'He had his chance of you. He wasn't man enough to keep you.'
Norah was silent. Why couldn't Dick shut up?