He drove to the side of the road and stopped the car. Eyes averted from her tortured face, he spoke gravely.
“Mrs. Petrovskey, I hope you will forgive me for being so rough. But I am only trying to help you, in my clumsy way. I have seen from the first that things were not right with you, and I thought that if you could bring yourself to speak out, it would help you. I am your doctor, you know. And a doctor is in his own manner a species of father confessor. But I see that I have made a mistake, and a perfect brute of myself besides. If I promise not to mention the subject again, will you try to forgive me?”
His sincerity touched her. With an attempt at a smile, she laid her hand upon his sleeve.
“Of course, I will! I realized all along that you were trying to help me, that it wasn’t just idle curiosity on your part.”
“I should hope not,” he muttered fervently.
“But I just couldn’t act any differently. I seem to be tied up in double bow-knots. You understand, don’t you?”
Her ardent little face pleaded. The wistful eyes sought his evasive gaze. As he met them his heart contracted. An amazing childish desire to cry suddenly came over him. Damn it, the girl had no business to be so pathetic!
He caught the groping hand and squeezed it fraternally.
“Let’s let bygones be bygones,” he replied. “But if you still wish it, I’ll drive you directly home. However, the Gramatan Inn is much nearer and I’m a starving man. Won’t you change your mind and have lunch with me?”
He looked so eager and boyish that she hated to refuse him.