He took her hand in his.
"I am not fit to touch you," he said.
"Tell me the news; tell me quickly." So he told her; of the wrangle in the parlour and what had passed between his father and him; of his own bitterness; and his letter, and the way in which the old man had taken it.
"He has not spoken to me since," he said, "except in public before the servants.

Both nights after supper he has sat silent and I beside him." "And you have not spoken to him ?" she asked quickly.
"I said something to him after supper on Sunday, and he made no answer.
He has done all his writing himself.

I think it is for him to speak now.
I should only anger him more if I tried it again." She sighed suddenly and swiftly, but said nothing.

Her hand lay passive in his, but her face was turned now to the bright southerly window, and he could see her puzzled eyes and her down-turned, serious mouth.

She was thinking with all her wits, and, plainly, could come to no conclusion.
She turned to him again.
"And you told him plainly that you and I ...