"I have been too free with you.

Father Beret told me not to forget my dignity when in your company.

He told me you might misunderstand me.

I don't care; I shall not fence with you again." She laughed, but there was no joyous freedom in the sound.
"Why, Alice--my dear Miss Roussillon, you do me a wrong; I beg a thousand pardons if I've hurt you," he cried, stepping nearer to her, "and I can never forgive myself.

You have somehow misunderstood me, I know you have!" On his part it was exaggerating a mere contact of mutual feelings into a dangerous collision.