He spoke in his customary slightly sing-song drawl. She longed to refuse, but could not. With an inarticulate murmur she turned aside.
In the parlour the fire burned brightly. She went and stood before it, striving desperately for composure. She would have given all she had to escape the coming interview. But she knew she could not, knew she must face it, listen to semi-humorous excuses, possibly a good-natured apology for an offence which she regarded as inexcusable, hideous.
With all her strength she fought for self-control. She must make it clear to him, must somehow make him understand that this thing had raised up a barrier between them that could never be broken down, an immovable obstacle to all intimacy, a perpetual stumbling-block to friendship. He had brought it on himself and never--never--never could it now be otherwise. They had never been very near, but now they were as far asunder as the poles. No kindness from him could ever make her forget.
She heard him descending the stairs, and braced herself with a throbbing heart to meet him. But she was trembling in every limb.
She did not turn to greet him as he entered, but kept her face resolutely averted.
He came in, closed the door with evident purpose, and drew near to her. She shrank at his coming. A quick involuntary shudder went through her. She stiffened herself instinctively.
He spoke, in his voice a soft, half-wheedling note of remonstrance. "Say, Maud, it ain’t--altogether--reasonable to condemn a man unheard."
Her breath came short. She would not look at him. With a quivering effort she spoke. "I don’t see any point in discussing the obvious. I am bound to believe the evidence of my own eyes."
"Without doubt," conceded Jake. "And they testified to my being screwed last night?"
"You can’t--with truth--assert that you were sober," she said.
Jake did not make the assertion. He stood considering. After a moment: "Do you object so strongly to the sight of me that you can’t bear to look at me?" he asked.
His tone was faintly humorous. She resented it on the instant, hotly, almost fiercely. It was so exactly the attitude that she had anticipated.
"I do object--yes," she said, her voice low and vehement. "I can’t think how you can have the effrontery to speak to me until I give you leave."