She had come in wrought up to face attack--reproaches, entreaties--ready to be angry or to be humble, as he should give her the lead.

But he gave her no lead.

She had to break through that quivering silence as best she could.
"I wanted to explain everything to you," she said in a low voice, as she came near to him.

"I know my note last night was very hard and abrupt.

I didn't mean to be hard.