It was sudden and unexpected, to be sure, but was there any reason why the quick tears should have rushed to Sally's eyes and why she should have looked so reproachfully at him? Ah, Doctor Sanderson, you have made a mess of it now! Sally withdrew her hand quickly.
"Oh, Fox!" she cried low, her eyes brimming. "How could you? How could you?"
He had hurt her somehow. God knew that he had not meant to. "Why, Sally," he began, "I only wanted—"
"That's just it," she said quickly; and she could say no more and she bit her lip and turned and hurried out, leaving Fox utterly bewildered and gazing after her as if he were paralyzed.
Sally almost ran down the walk and, as she ran, she gave one sob. "He was only sorry for me," she said to herself; "he only pitied me, and I won't be pitied. He only wanted—to help me bear my burdens. Dear Fox!" she thought, with a revulsion of feeling. "He is always so—wanting to help me bear my burdens. Dear Fox! But he shall be true—to her," she added fiercely. "Does he think I will help him to be untrue? Oh, Fox, dear!"
And, biting her lip again, cruelly, she got into the waiting carriage.