“‘Ruth!’ he said, in a vibrant voice. I want a word with you. You’ve misjudged me.’
“We had all come to a standstill.
“‘I can’t misjudge what I see,’ she answered very coldly.
“‘You saw, you saw! well, and what of it? That was only a bit of fun. Damn you, if you treated me a bit better yourself ...’
“‘Let me alone, Rawdon,’ she said, shaking him off. ‘You can do as you like, that’s your affair, only let me alone. I don’t want to talk to you. You go your way, and I’ll go mine.’
“‘Your way!’ he said, scowling at me. ‘Your way’s my way, as you’ll learn.’
“‘Now don’t you come bullying me, Rawdon,’ she said, but I think she was frightened.
“‘Well, you speak me fair and I won’t bully you. I was up to no harm, only larking around.... Come, Ruthie, haven’t you a smile for me? You treat me cruel bad most days, you know, and I don’t take offence. Ruthie!’
“‘We’re not alone, Rawdon,’ she said sharply.
“I thought he muttered, ‘No, damn it!’ between his teeth, and just then I felt a hand close over my wrist on the side farthest from Westmacott, a little imploring hand that checked in the nick of time my impulse to move away. She spoke bravely, as though the contact gave her courage.