Claire sank into a chair and struggled against the starting sobs. It seemed to her that her whole life was becoming one continual argument wherein she was accused and in return forced to demand explanations.
"What in the world do you mean?" she faltered. "Are you saying that Philip and I are lovers?"
"Of course not! It isn't like you to say that. And what if we were?"
"It wouldn't be any of my business, would it?" He was bitter.
"You needn't be hesitant about admitting it. It's true," he went on. "Why shouldn't it be? I am a mere piece of excess baggage which you are too kind-hearted to eliminate. I know that, too. Why shouldn't you eliminate me?" He smiled, satirically. "If I were Philip Ortez, loving you and loved in return, I would feel like killing the blind man, whose presence hampered."
She stared at him, wondering if he were in earnest.
"Then it's fortunate that you haven't the opportunity to feel that way."
"Obviously." He laughed, sullenly. "I sha'n't, because you couldn't love a blind man."
Claire only sat and looked at him, thrilled with the knowledge that he was about to tell her he loved her. She was trembling and desperately afraid of herself. She moved uneasily, and against her will; her lips said, "I could love a blind man, Lawrence."
He sat up and clenched his hands together quickly. The tone of her voice in itself was a direct confession. But his deep skepticism of blindness would not let him believe that he was right.
"Do you mean that you do love me?" he demanded.
She wanted to say "Yes," but she thought of Philip and was afraid of what he might do, should he learn of her lie. Then, too, there was her resolution to go back to Howard. Strange that her long-planned friendly explanation of her own attitude did not occur to her, but it did not.
Lawrence rose and came toward her, his hands out. He was determined to know, once and for all. The gathering emotion in his breast was growing into an unbearable pain.
"Claire," he said, coming nearer and nearer. "Could you love me?"
His hands were almost to her. She saw them coming; terror, love, happiness, anguish, and the desire to be his paralyzed her will. She did not move.
He put his arms around her and lifted her until she was crushed against him.