I did not mean to send you such trash.

The man must be either an escaped lunatic or has tried his hand at a hoax.

It is a tissue of absurdity." He spoke bluntly, almost harshly, because he was in terror at the thought that she might be allowing herself to be deluded by this wild and baseless fancy, but he looked away as he spoke.

He could not bear to see the effect of his words.
"It is not absurd," she cried, clasping his arm convulsively with both hands so that she hurt him, and looking fiercely at him out of hot, fevered eyes.

"It is the most reasonable thing in the world.