“Well,” he said at last, with a faint smile.
“Do you hate me, Charles?” she asked in a low, steady voice.
“Hate you! Why should I hate you, my dear Edith? What should put such thoughts——”
“I have only a few seconds to speak to you,” Miss Dove continued hastily. “Answer me truly and directly. You do not hate me?”
“I shall never hate you, dear.”
“‘Why do you avoid me?”
“Have I avoided you?”
“You know you have. Why?”
“I have not avoided you, Edith.”
“Do you still love me?”