He absolutely bullied me! Then it apparently occurred to him to take my moral welfare in hand, and I should judge he considered that Jezebel and Delilah were positively provincial in their methods as compared with me." "Nonsense! If he didn't know you, why should he suppose himself competent to form any opinion about you at all--good, bad, or indifferent ?" "I don't know," replied Magda slowly.

Then, speaking with sudden defiance: "Yes, I do know! A pal of his had--had cared about me some time or other, and I'd turned him down.

That's why." "Oh, Magda!" There was both reproach and understanding in Gillian's voice.
Magda shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, if he wanted to pay off old scores on his pal's behalf, he succeeded," she said mirthlessly.
Gillian looked at her in surprise.

She had never seen Magda quite like this before; her sombre eyes held a curious strained look like those of some wild thing of the forest caught in a trap and in pain.
"And you don't know who he was--I mean the man who came to your help and then lectured you ?" "Yes, I do.

It was Michael Quarrington, the artist." "Michael Quarrington?
Why, he has the reputation of being a most charming man!" Magda stared into the fire.
"I dare say he might have a great deal of charm if he cared to exert it.
Apparently, however, he didn't think I was worth the effort.".