I shall not hurt you." "I am not afraid," she whispered back.
He sat silent for a space, not looking at her.

At last: "Can you attend to me now ?" he asked her formally.
She raised herself slowly.
"May I say something first ?" she said.
He turned his brooding eyes upon her.
"If you can say it quietly," he said.
She pressed her hand to her throat.
"You--will listen to me, and--and believe me ?" "I shall know if you lie to me," he said.
She made a sharp gesture of protest.
"I don't deserve that," she said.

"You know it." His grim lips relaxed a very little.
"I shouldn't talk about deserts if I were you," he said.
His tone scared her again, but she made a valiant effort to compose herself.
"You say that," she said, "because you are very angry with me.

I don't dispute your right to be angry.

I know I've made a fool of you.