“That only proves how little you know about him. I shall not do it, Adela. You are not very frank with me, but I am sincere with you. Either you must give me an explanation of your reason for writing this letter, or you must give me permission to tell Mr. Arabian of your warning, or—if you won’t do either the one or the other—I shall take no action because of this letter. I shall behave as if I had never received it and read it.”
“Beryl! What reason could I have for writing as I have written if I had nothing against this man?”
“I don’t know. It is very difficult to understand the reasons women have for doing what they do. But I have come here to ask you what your reason is. That’s why I am here now.”
“Could I have a bad reason, a selfish reason?”
“How can I tell?”
“Then have you a bad opinion of me, of my character?”
“I have always admired you very much. You know that.”
“Once—once you called me a book of wisdom.”
“Did I?”
“Don’t you remember?”