"Then, if you know that——"
"Yes, but if you forbid a thing, it drives a man to do it. Besides——"
He found himself looking into her eyes, searching them with sudden impetuous passion. She glanced away, reddening, the bunch of may blossom crushed against her bosom. A thorn pricked her arm, but it was part of the pain of her perplexity.
She seemed to cast about for words.
"We lead such a lonely life, and father does not like strangers."
"Is that why you were so hard on me?"
"When?"
"Oh, you remember."
He was driving her into a corner, and it was impossible for him not to see her too palpable distress. It both troubled and angered him, pointing toward two possible explanations.
"You remember the night you rescued me out of the lane?"