"But I understand perfectly, as it is," said Lawrence, rather gloomily.
"Do you? I wonder whether you really do. Do you think there's any—any excuse for me?"
The words were spoken in a faltering shamefaced way very unlike Fanny's usual manner.
"As though you needed any excuse for taking a fancy to any one who pleases you!" answered Lawrence, rather coldly. "Aren't you perfectly free to like anybody who turns up?"
During the pause which followed, he slowly relighted his pipe, which had quite gone out by this time.
"I was afraid you wouldn't understand," said Fanny, in a disappointed tone.
"But I do—"
"No—not what I mean. I hate explaining things, but I shall have to."
Louis Lawrence wondered vaguely what there could be to explain, and, if there were anything, why she should be so anxious to explain to him in particular.
