“Not in my nature?” she repeated.
“You were seeking happiness, as every one must in their own way. That happiness lay, apparently, with Mr. Riddle.”
“Ah,” she cried, with a catch of her breath, “I thought you would be judging me.”
“I am stating facts. Your son was a sufficient embarrassment in this matter, and I should have been an additional one. I blame you not, Mrs. Temple, for anything you have done to me, but I blame you for embittering Nick's life.”
“And he?” she said. It seemed to me that I detected a faltering in her voice.
“I will hide nothing from you. He blames you, with what justice I leave you to decide.”
She did not answer this, but turned her head away towards the bayou. Nor could I determine what was in her mind.
“And now I ask you whether I have acted as your friend in begging you to meet me.”
She turned to me swiftly at that.
“I am at a loss to see how there can be friendship between us, Mr. Ritchie,” she said.