"Good-by," said she, "and thank you a thousand times." She held out her hand. He bowed over it and went away through the sunlit garden, resentment obvious in every line of his back.
Neither Edward nor the girl spoke. There was no sound in the arbor save the convulsive gulpings of Charles absorbing the sponge fingers which she absently offered him from among the scattered dessert.
It was she who broke the silence. "I did write," she said.
"Yes. I got the letter." He laid it and Miss Davenant's on the table. "What does it mean?"
"You won't let _me_ help you--but you let that man, right enough."
"What was I to do? The important thing was to get away."
"I did. Except that you're not my brother. I told him I'd missed you and that I'd got to get to London to-day as early as I could. And he was awfully nice and kind."
"_Nice_ and kind," she repeated, with emphasis. "And you were most horrid to him. And I do think you're unkind--"
"I don't mean to be," said Edward, "and it's not my province to be horrid and unkind to you, any more than it is to be nice and kind. In this letter you say good-by. Am I to understand that you mean good-by--that I am to leave you, here--now?"
She did not answer, and there was that in her silence which laid a healing touch on his hurt vanity.
"If my manner doesn't please you," he went on, "do remember that you have brought a fairly solid Spanish castle about my ears and that I am still a little bewildered and bruised."
"I'm sorry," she said, "but I didn't think."
"You see," he went on, "I thought I'd found a girl who wasn't just like other girls. . . ."
"I thought that you were brave and truthful and strong--and that you trusted me; and then I find you haven't the courage to stick to the way we planned; you haven't even the courage to wait for me and tell me you've changed your mind. You bolt off like a frightened rabbit and make friends with the first bounder who comes along. I was a fool to think I could help you. You don't need my help. Anybody else can help you just as well. Good-by--"
"Good-by," she said, not looking up. And he perceived that she was weeping. Also that he was no longer angry.
"Don't!" he said, "oh, don't! Do forgive me. I don't know what I've said. But I didn't mean it, whatever it was, if it's hurt you. I'll do just what you say. Shall I call that chap back?"