And then, quite before she recognised what letter it was, or could feel curious concerning it, the first illuminating line of it had flashed irrevocably to her mind's centre.
When Allan appeared in the doorway a few minutes later, she was standing by the desk.

She held the letter in both hands and over it her eyes flamed--blasted.
Divining what she had done, his mind ran with lightning quickness to face this new emergency.

But he was puzzled and helpless, for now her hands fell and she laughed weakly, almost hysterically.

He searched for the key to this unnatural behaviour.

He began, hesitatingly, expecting some word from her to guide him along the proper line of defense.
"I am sure, my dear--if you had only--only trusted me--implicitly--your opinion of this affair--" At the sound of his voice she ceased to laugh, stiffening into a wild, grim intensity.
"Now I can look that thing straight in the eyes and it can't hurt me." "In the eyes ?" he questioned, blankly.
"I can _go_ now." "You will make me the laughing-stock of this town!" For the first time in their life together there was the heat of real anger in his voice.