“Were you in—in prison!” she demanded with an overwhelming surge of disgust.
He began to snivel: “You couldn’t get over that, could you, Eris?... And what I did to you—getting you in wrong—disgracing you that way——”
She made no answer but her grey eyes grew cold.
“You couldn’t ever forgive me, could you, Eris?” he whimpered, watching her intently.
“I can forget you, in time, if you keep away from me.... But—it is terrible to see you—terrible!”
He licked his dry lips, furtively, always watching her.
“If ever you would let me try to make amends—if you’d just let me work for you,—slave for you——”
For an instant she stared at him, incredulous that she had heard correctly. Then wrath set her cheeks ablaze: but her voice remained controlled, and she chose and measured her words:
“Listen to me, Stuart: I wouldn’t let you lift a finger for me; I wouldn’t let you touch me,—I don’t expect ever to see you again,—I don’t want even to hear of you. And that’s that!”
“Do you hate me so bitterly, Eris?” he whimpered, cringing but always watching her face.