"I am glad after all that we have had this plain understanding.

I have never felt unkindly toward you.

I can't.

What you did I might have prevented had I known enough; but I cannot help it now; nor can you if you would." "If I would," she repeated gaily--for the people opposite were staring.
"We are done for," he said, nodding carelessly to a servant to refill his glass; "and I abide by conditions because I choose to; not," he added contemptuously, "because a complacent law has tethered you to--to the thing that has crawled up on your knees to have its ears rubbed." The level insult to her husband stunned her; she sat there, upright, the white smile stamped on her stiffened lips, fingers tightening about the stem of her wine-glass.
He began to toss bread crumbs to the scarlet fish, laughing to himself in an ugly way.

"_I_ wish to punish you?
Why, Alixe, only look at _him_!--Look at his gold wristlets; listen to his simper, his lisp.
Little girl--oh, little girl, what have you done to yourself ?--for you have done nothing to me, child, that can match it in sheer atrocity!" Her colour was long in returning.
"Philip," she said unsteadily, "I don't think I can stand this--" "Yes, you can." "I am too close to the wall.