She sighed again, her voice breaking effectively.
"Oh, dear! Do you want me to give up _all_ my friends? And is it quite fair?"
"I haven't asked you to give up any of your friends, but Lloyd--"
Well, I've given him up, Jerry. I'll send him home tonight. Don't let's think of him any more. I can't stand having anything come between us again. I can't, Jerry. It makes me so unhappy. I've been wretched since yesterday about Una. That's why I came. I wanted you to know how sorry I am that I spoke to Una the way I did."
"Are you, Marcia?" His voice had softened suddenly and from the shuffling of his feet I think he took a pace toward her.
"Yes, Jerry dear, contrite. I simply couldn't let another hour pass without coming to ask your forgiveness."
He was weakening. Perhaps his arm was around her. I don't know, but his silence was ominous.
"I have been _so_ miserable," she murmured. "My conscience has troubled me _terribly_. Oh, I can't tell you how I have suffered. All the evening I thought you would come. I waited for you; I went out on the terrace a hundred times, watching for the lights of your car; but you didn't come, you didn't come, Jerry, and I knew how terribly I had offended you."
I couldn't see her but I'm sure she was wringing her pretty white hands. Jerry must have been deeply moved for his voice was shaky.
"It didn't matter about me, but a visitor, a guest at Horsham Manor, Marcia, a friend--!"
"A friend, yes. Oh, I've been so unhappy about it all--so _miserably_ wretched."
Her voice broke and she seemed upon the point of tears.
"Why did you, Marcia? Why did you?" he repeated.
"I--I--" She appeared to break down and weep and Jerry's voice took on a tone of distress.
"I--I'm trying not to--but--" and she wept anew.
"Come," said Jerry's voice. "Sit here a moment. I'm sure it can all be explained. It makes me very unhappy to see you so miserable."
They moved nearer and she sat upon the very rock beneath which I lay among the mouldy leaves; so near that I could have reached out and touched the girl's silken ankle with my fingers. Jerry, I think, still stood.
"I don't want to--to make you unhappy," she said in a moment. "And it was all my fault, but I just couldn't--couldn't stand it, Jerry."