Bruce was beforehand with her and barred the way, standing with his arms outstretched and his back to the door.
'Edith, I'm pained and surprised at your conduct!' 'Conduct!' she exclaimed.
'Don't echo my words! I will _not_ be echoed, do you hear ?...
Behaviour, then, if you prefer the word....

Why don't you wish me to see that letter ?' Edith quickly looked at the letter.

Until this moment she had had an unreasonable and nervous terror that Aylmer might have forgotten his intention of writing what he called officially, and might have written her what she now inwardly termed a lot of nonsense.

But she now saw she had made a mistake: it was not his handwriting nor his postmark.

She became firmer.
'Look here Bruce,' she said, in a decided voice, quietly.