“People like that. I am going with them to lead their life—to be gone for a year, unless one thing happens. As I said, you are responsible.”
“But I can’t be,” she implored. “It isn’t possible. I can’t count for anything.”
“Let me assure you that you do.”
“Then I can’t take the responsibility. I won’t.”
“Unless one thing happens I am going,” he went on, inflexibly. “There are some, I think, who believe in me—who will think I am making a mistake.”
“But your future—your career,” she began, and paused abashed, as she saw the way he watched her.
“I thought we were to have no—insincerities—no flatteries. Since I know what you really think, such civil implications can mean nothing.”
She bit her lips, pale as her cheeks were white.
“Oh!” she cried, “how horrible!”
Through all of dinner she hardly spoke. If she said nothing to Leeds, neither would she address the man on her other side, only giving such monosyllable answers as were necessary. The evening dragged slowly. Leeds did not approach her. Once or twice she looked toward him, but he did not appear to notice her. Indeed, he only came late from the smoking room and returned after a brief appearance in the big hall.