Part 31 (1/2)
”I'm sorry, Elise. But I thought you cared for me.”
”You'd no business to think. And it wasn't likely I'd tell you.”
”Oh, you didn't tell me, my dear. How could you? But you made me believe you wanted me.”
”Wanted? Do you suppose I wanted to be made ridiculous?”
”Love isn't ridiculous,” said Mr. Waddington.
”It is. It's _the_ most ridiculous thing there is. And when _you_'re making it.... If you could have seen your face--Oh, dear!”
”If you wouldn't laugh quite so loud. The servants will hear you.”
”I mean them to hear me.”
”Confound you, Elise!”
”That's right, swear at me. Swear at me.”
”I'm sorry I swore. But, hang it all, it's every bit as bad for me as it is for you.”
”Worse, I fancy. You needn't think Miss Madden didn't see you, because she did.”
”It's a pity Miss Madden didn't come in a little sooner.”
”Sooner? I think she chose her moment very well.”
”If she had heard the whole of our conversation I think she'd have realized there was something to be said for me.”
”There isn't anything to be said for you. And until you've apologized for insulting me--”
”You've heard me apologize. As for insulting you, no decent woman, in the circ.u.mstances, ever tells a man his love insults her, even if she can't return it.”
”And even if he's another woman's husband?”
”Even if he's another woman's husband, if she's ever given him the right--”
”Right? Do you think you bought the right to make love to me?” She rose, confronting him.
”No. I thought you'd given it me.... I was mistaken.”
He helped her to put on the coat that she wriggled into with clumsy, irritated movements. Clumsy. The woman _was_ clumsy. He wondered how he had never seen it. And vulgar. Noisy and vulgar. You never knew what a woman was like till you'd seen her angry. He had answered her appropriately and with admirable tact. He had scored every point; he was scoring now with his cool, imperturbable politeness. He tried not to think about Barbara.
”Your fur.”
”Thank you.”
He rang the bell. Partridge appeared.
”Tell Kimber to bring the car round and drive Mrs. Levitt home.”