Her voice broke upon his reflections,—
'Thinking of the Islands, Julian?' and her words joining like a cogwheel smoothly on to the current of his mind, he answered naturally,—
'Yes,'
'I thought as much. I have something to tell you. You may not be interested. I am no longer engaged to Miloradovitch.'
'Since when?'
'Since yesterday evening. Since you left me, and ran away into the woods. I was angry, and vented my anger on him.'
'Was that fair?'
'He has you to thank. It has happened before—with others.'
Roused for a second from his absorption, he impatiently shrugged his shoulders, and turned his back, and looked out over the sea. Eve was again silent, brooding and resentful in her corner. Presently he turned towards her, and said angrily, reverting to the Islands,—
'You are the vainest and most exorbitant woman I know. You resent one's interest in anything but yourself.'