He evaded her reproachful gaze.
“Poor Claire, yes she did care!” His voice was at once reassured and remorseful.
Anne smiled down upon him ironically. The colossal egotism of these geniuses! But her voice was unruffled as she proceeded.
“Does care, you mean! Alexis, look at me.” She sat up and took his reluctant face into her hands. “I want you to go back to Claire. I want you to make up to her for all your past unkindness. Will you do it to please me?”
He jerked his head away violently and rose to his feet.
“No, ten thousand times no,” he cried. “Does a prisoner ever return to his dungeon? How can you ask such a thing? It is only because you are tired of me. Want to get rid of me. Well, I am going any time you say. This minute, if you wish!”
She shook her head with a low laugh.
“What, in all this rain?” she asked, as a sudden gust of wind tore at the windows. “You are so excitable, my poor Alexis! Come, you know I don’t want you to go. I shall miss you sadly. But I can’t help thinking how much happier you might be if you only would.” She looked wistfully into the angry face.
He returned her glance with scorn.
“Happier? There’s no such thing as happiness. At least for me; I’m not so exacting as to demand it! But at least I can be free, and I shall!”