She raised her right arm, and pointed toward the house, through the trees.
"You have forgotten the man, in there," she said, no less gently. It was his turn to shudder, but he repeated with doggedness in his tone:
"I have forgotten nothing."
"You mean to deal with him—afterward?"
"Yes."
"How? If I consent to all that you have asked, will you deal with him—gently?"
"Can you plead for him, even now, when—?"
"Hush! Answer my question, if you please."
"I will deal with him more gently than he deserves. I promise you that."
"I shall be satisfied with that promise." She turned about and faced him, and there was a smile on her lips, now, although Roderick entirely misunderstood the cause of it. He drew backward, farther away from her. But she followed after him, holding out one hand for him to take, and persisting in the effort when he refused to see it. There were tears under her lashes again, but she was smiling through them; and then, while she followed him, and he still sought to avoid her, Patricia lost all control over herself. She half-collapsed, half-threw herself upon the chair again, and buried her face in her hands, sobbing.