This was the personal note that of all her apprehensions had given Mary greatest alarm. “Surely you see that you are harming me--I mean hurting me--I mean, yes, getting me into trouble by staying like this with me. Mrs. Chater might have turned me off on Saturday--” “I spoke for you.” “Yes.” The words choked her, but she spoke them--“I am grateful to you for that. But if she found me talking to you again--especially if she knew you came here to see me, she would send me away at once. She told me so.” “How is she to know?” “The children--” “I'll take care of that.” “You can't prevent it. In any case--” Bob said bitterly: “In any case! Yes, that's it. In any case you hate the sight of me.” She cried: “Oh, why will you speak like that? I mean that in any case it is not right. I promised.” Bob laughed. “If that's all, it is all right. You didn't promise for me.” “It makes no difference. You say you are sorry--I believe you are sorry. You can only show it one way. Mr. Chater, please leave me alone.” Her pretty appeal was fatal to her desire. It enhanced her graces. In both phrase and tone it was different from similar request in the petulant mouths of those ladies amongst whom Bob purchased his way. Dissatisfied, they would have said “Oh, chuck it! Do!” But “Mr. Chater, please leave me alone!”--that had the effect of moving Mr. Chater a degree closer along the seat. He said: “You shan't have cause to blame me. Look here, you haven't asked me to explain my conduct on Friday.” “I don't wish you to.” “Don't you want to know?” She shook her head. “Aren't you curious?” His voice was low with a note of intensity. This was love-making, as he knew the pursuit. He went on: “I'm sure you're curious. Look here, I'm going to tell you.” “I'm going,” she said; made to rise. He caught her hand where it lay on her lap; pressed her down. “You're not. If you do I shall follow--but I won't let you,” and he pressed again in advertisement. Now she was alarmed--not for the result of this interview, but for its very present perils. Fear strangled her voice, but she said, “Let me go.” “You must hear me, then.” “I wish to go.” “You must stay to hear me.” He believed a fierce assault would now win the heights. He released her hand; but she was still his prisoner, and he leant towards her averted head. “I'm going to tell you why I behaved like that that night. It was because I could not contain myself any longer. You had always been so icy to me; kept me at arm's-length, barely let me speak to you; and all the time I was burning to tell you that I loved you--there, you know it now. On that night you were still cold when you might have been only barely civil and I could have contained myself. But you would not give me a word, and at last all that was in me for you burst out and I could not hold myself. It was unkind; it was frightening to you, perhaps; but was it a crime?--is it a crime to love?” His flow checked, waiting an impulse from her.