"Let them talk. What do I care how people talk? Lawrence, if you think that I am going to let you go like this, you are mistaken."
"I believe this poor lady has gone mad," said Lawrence quietly. It was not the best way to quiet and soothe her, but he could not help himself.
"You think you are going to play fast and loose with me twice in my life, and you are mistaken. You shall not. Years ago you showed me what you are—cold, treacherous, and crafty——"
"Go on, Victoria; I like that kind of thing, because now I know that you are not mad. Quite in your best style."
"And I forgave you when you returned, and allowed you once more to visit me. What other woman would have acted so to such a man?"
"Yet she must be mad," said Lawrence. "How else could she talk such frightful rubbish?"
"Once more we have been friends. Again you have drawn me on, until I have learned to look to you, for the second time, for the appreciation denied to me by my—Mr. Cassilis. No, sir; this second desertion must not and shall not be."
"One would think," said Lawrence helplessly, "that we had not quarrelled every time we met. Now, Mrs. Cassilis, you have my resolution. What you please, in your sweet romantic way, to call second desertion must be and shall be."
"Then I will know the reason why?"
"I have told you the reason why. Don't be a fool, Mrs. Cassilis. Ask yourself what you want. Do you want me to run away with you? I am a lazy man, I know, and I generally do what people ask me to do; but as for that thing, I am damned if I do it!"