"That would have been the sane, sound, immediate course to adopt. With a grain of gumption you'd both instantly have felt it. I should have found a way to take you, you know, if I'd been what Owen's supposed to be. I should have got the business over first; the rest could come when you liked! Good God, girl, your place was to stand before me as a woman honestly married. One doesn't know what one has hold of in touching you, and you must excuse my saying that you're literally unpleasant to me to meet as you are. Then at least we could have talked, and Owen, if he had the ghost of a sense of humor, could have snapped his fingers at your refinements." "By every means in her power."!

Fleda stopped in front of her hostess. "I gave him my opinion that you're very logical, very obstinate, and very proud." "To give them up?" Fleda hesitated again.

"Not exactly those words. But I did come to say"—he stammered, then brought it out—"I did come to say we must have them right back." "Am I? Do I strike you so? You know I hate him," Fleda went on. "But what if there's one that it's no difficulty at all for me to give?" Fleda inquired. "I'm sure that's the only one Mrs. Brigstock came to ask, if she came to ask any at all."