It's nonsense, and you mustn't" He contrived to utter another laugh. "You are an astonishing young woman, I must say! Is your conception of ethics based solely upon the pleasing of the nearest available man?"
"Go on," she said, not moving, nor letting her eyes fall from his. "'The nearest available man,' you say. Very well—insult me all you please! We both know that pleasing you is all I care about; but something you don't know is that I've already pleased you more than anyone else ever did. I know it, though; and do you think that while I have that in my mind I'll ever give up going on trying to please you? Do you?"
He seemed to struggle with an increasing pain. "Upon my word, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do," she said, and her eyes grew brighter; her voice was tremulous but happy. "We both know."
"Indeed I—I" Stammering, he made an effort to rise from his chair; but he had no strength, and, in difficulties with the table, could not at once get upon his feet. His sister, coming into the corridor at that moment, ran to help him.
