She turned on him quivering, beside herself.
"Not in this condition—for your own sake," he repeated steadily. And again he said: "For the sake of your name in the years to come, Shiela, you cannot go to him like this. Control yourself."
She strove to pass him; all her strength was leaving her.
"You coward!" she gasped.
"I thought you would mistake me," he said quietly. "People usually do.... Sit down."
For a while she lay sobbing in her arm-chair, white hands clinched, biting at her lips to choke back the terror and grief.
"As soon as your self-command returns my commands are void," he said coolly. "Nobody here shall see you as you are. If you can't protect yourself it's my duty to do it for you.... Do you want Portlaw to see you?—Wayward?—these doctors and nurses and servants? How long would it take for gossip to reach your family!... And what you've done for their sakes would be a crime instead of a sacrifice!"
She looked up; he continued his pacing to and fro but said no more.