“That _is_ putting it strongly indeed. Nothing could be more forcible,” he replied with a sneer. “So they say you are a _divorcée_?” he continued, his passion repressed but at a white heat all the same, looking her over from head to foot. “Where are the grounds for this most infernal scandal that ever was hatched by evil-tongued old women? What is the story?” he asked vehemently. “I do not know,” replied Alice, now perfectly composed. “Of course I would be the _last_ to hear.” “It does not appear to concern you much,” he exclaimed angrily. “No, not _much_,” she replied, looking at him with her clear, frank, truthful eyes. “By Jove, then it concerns _me_! Society about here wants a lesson in good manners and hospitality if in nothing else. If I can find out the originator of this outrageous calumny it will be worse for him. I believe, if he was here now, I would----But never mind, what is the good of blustering about it to you? I shall _act_, that is more to the purpose. How can you be thought a _divorcée_ when you were never divorced? The story is senseless; you imagine it, perhaps.” “It is not imagination that no one ever calls here, is it?” she asked dryly. “I believe it is thought that you sent me to Monkswood to hush up scandal and to save the Fairfax name, and that I am really as bad as ever I can be.” “As bad as ever you can be!” he repeated, with remarkable fluctuations of countenance, and half under his breath. “As bad as ever you can be!” he repeated, his eyes alight with a sombre fire. “I do not see that you need be so _very_ angry, Reginald. Remember that it is my _guardian_,” emphasizing the word; “it does not concern you so much.” “It does concern me. Nothing could concern me more,” he answered vehemently. “If I had known you would have been so fearfully angry I never would have told you. How unreasonable and inconsistent you are. You insisted on an answer; you made me speak by main force”--holding up her slender wrist, which still retained the red mark of his fingers--“and when your wish is gratified you are furious. You are encroaching on the privileges of my sex; now are you not?” she asked with a smile. “Did _I_ do that, Alice?” he exclaimed aghast, pointing to her wrist. “I most sincerely beg your pardon. I was so determined to hear the truth that I forgot it was not a man’s arm I was grasping. I have been downright brutal, but the idea of anyone casting a slur on _you_ of all people drives me beside myself. I am afraid I have been very rude and violent altogether; but you are acquainted with my temper of old, and time, as you may observe, has not improved it,” he concluded with a short laugh. “May I look at your wrist?” he asked with real concern depicted in his face. “You may,” she replied, frankly placing her thin little hand in his. “I hope you will forgive me, Alice. I must have hurt you,” he added after a pause, dropping her hand with a respectful distant gesture, as if he had suddenly recollected himself.