He smiled in understanding. 'How men go wrong--and women! Look at me, look at Fricker, yes, look at--her! We none of us knew the way. Fricker won't learn. She has--perhaps! I have, I think.' He moved towards her. 'And you've done it, Peggy.' 'No, no,' she cried. 'Oh, how can you be so wrong as that?' 'What?' He stood still in surprise. 'Didn't you suggest it all? Didn't you take me? Wasn't it for you that I did it?' 'Oh, you're so blind!' she cried scornfully. 'Perhaps I suggested it, perhaps I went with you! What does that matter?' 'Well, Peggy?' he said in his old indulgent, pleasant way. 'Oh, I'm glad only one thing's changed in you!' she burst out. 'Well, Peggy?' he persisted. 'Were you thinking of me?' she demanded contemptuously. 'Were you kicking your idol for me? Were you buying for me? What made it harder to buy after lunch than before? Was that the difference between buying for yourself and for me?' Her scorn grew with every question. 'What have I done that you should give me this?' She plucked fretfully at the offending string of pearls. 'Never mind that. It was only to use up the change--if you like. What do you mean by the rest of it?' 'What do I mean?' cried Peggy. 'I mean that if you've done her a service, she's done you more. If you've given her back her self-respect, what hasn't she done for you? Are you going to her as her saviour? Oh, I know you won't talk about it! But is that in your mind? Go to her as yours too! Be honest, Airey! Whose face was in your mind through the drive to-day? If you ever thought of telling it all, whom were you going to tell it to? If you wanted to be free, for whom did you want your freedom? I! What had I to do with it? If I could seem to speak with her voice, it was all I could do. And you've been thinking that she's done nothing for you. Oh, the injustice of it!' She put up her hand and laid it on his, which now rested on the back of her chair. 'Don't you see, Airey; don't you see?' He smoked his pipe steadily, but as yet he gave her no assent. 'It's cost me nothing--or not much,' Peggy went on. 'I broke two promises----' 'Two?' he interrupted quickly.