"I was fair game," she answered bitterly.
"Naturally I couldn't foresee that we were going to get into such a devil of a scrape."
"And in any case you had a pretty shrewd idea that if any one suffered it wouldn't be you."
"I think that's a bit thick.
After all, now it's all over, you must see I acted for the best for both of us.
You lost your head and you ought to be jolly glad that I kept mine.
Do you think it would have been a success if I'd done what you wanted me to?
We were dashed uncomfortable in the frying-pan, but we should have been a damned sight worse off in the fire.
And you haven't come to any harm.
Why can't we kiss and make friends?"
She almost laughed.
"You can hardly expect me to forget that you sent me to almost certain death without a shadow of compunction?"
"Oh, what nonsense!
I told you there was no risk if you took reasonable precautions.
Do you think I'd have let you go for a moment if I hadn't been perfectly convinced of that?"
"You were convinced because you wanted to be.
You're one of those cowards who only think what it's profitable for them to think."
"Well, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
You have come back, and if you don't mind my saying anything so objectionable you've come back prettier than ever."
"And Walter?"
He could not resist the facetious answer which came to his mind. Charlie smiled.
"Nothing suits you so well as black."
She stared at him for a moment.
Tears filled her eyes and she began to cry.
Her beautiful face was distorted with grief.
She did not seek to hide it, but lay on her back with her hands along her sides.
"For God's sake don't cry like that.
I didn't mean to say anything unkind. It was only a joke.
You know how sincerely I feel for you in your bereavement."
"Oh, hold your stupid tongue."
"I'd give anything to have Walter back again."
"He died because of you and me."
He took her hand, but she snatched it away from him.
"Please go away," she sobbed.
"That's the only thing you can do for me now. I hate and despise you.
Walter was worth ten of you and I was too big a fool to see it.
Go away. Go away."
She saw he was going to speak again and she sprang to her feet and went into her room.
He followed her, and as he entered, with instinctive prudence, drew the shutter so that they were almost in darkness.
"I can't leave you like this," he said, putting his arms round her. "You know I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Don't touch me.
For God's sake go. Go away."
She tried to tear herself from him, but he would not let her.
She was crying hysterically now.
"Darling, don't you know that I've always loved you," he said in his deep, charming voice. "I love you more than ever."
"How can you tell such lies!
Let me go.
Damn you, let me go."
"Don't be unkind to me, Kitty.
I know I've been a brute to you, but forgive me."