The weakness of the minute before had passed--passed with his failure to strike when, with all her heart and soul, she wanted him to strike.
"You need not be frightened," he said, subduing his voice with an effort.
"Let us take time to steady ourselves.

We have a good deal to say to each other.

Let's be careful not to waste words, now that we're face to face at last." "I am quite calm," she said, stock-still beside the table.

"Why should I be frightened?
I am the last person in the world that you would strike, Braden." She was that sure of him! "Strike?
Good God, why should that have entered your head ?" "One never knows," she said.

"I was startled.