"And your reason?" persisted the man. "You know now my explanation for being—as I am. What is yours?"
"Do you wish a compliment, also, Clayton Craig?"
"I wish to know the reason."
"Unfortunately you know it already. Otherwise you would not be here."
"You mean it is this lonely life, this man of another race you have married?"
"No. I mean the thing that led me away from this life, and—the man you have named."
"I don't believe I understand, Bess."
"You ought to. You drank me dry once, every drop of confidence I possessed, for two weeks."
"You mean I myself am the cause," said the man low.
"I repeat you have the compliment—if you consider it such."