He felt so greatly discomposed that he snatched up his hat, ran down into the side street, and stood waiting for her outside the hated and ominous doorway.
When after half an hour she emerged from the clutch of his unworthy confrères, he took her arm and led her into Trinity Square; and, walking with her round and round the small enclosure, reproached her for deserting him in favour of such people.
"But I haven't deserted you," she said meekly bearing the reproaches. "This is only some private business that they are attending to."
"But is it kind to me? You know what I think of them. I ask you, is it kind to me?"
"I meant no unkindness," she said earnestly.
And she offered apologies based on vague generalities. Life is complex and difficult. One is forced out of one's path by unusual circumstances. Sometimes one is driven to do things of so private a nature that one cannot speak about them to one's oldest and best friends.
"Very well. But if you feel disinclined to confide everything to me—there are other men that you could depend on. Go to Dickinson—he's a thorough good sort. Or Loder—or Selby! Go to any one of them. But don't—for mercy's sake—mix yourself up with these brutes."
In order to defend herself, Mrs. Marsden was obliged to defend Hyde & Collins.
"They are quick to understand one. Really they seem sharp—"
"Sharp! Yes—too sharp—a thousand times too sharp. But ask anybody's opinion of them. Look at their clients. They haven't got a single solid client."