As it was she spoke haltingly, with many pauses, describing to him Hunt-Goring's arrival and invitation, her own dilemma, her final surrender.
"I couldn't help it, Nick," she said, still fast clinging to his hand.
"I couldn't let her go alone." "Go on," said Nick.
And then she told him of Hunt-Goring's overture, her own sick repulsion for the man, his persistence, his brutality.
At that abruptly Nick broke in.

"Before you go any farther--has he ever made love to you before ?" She answered him because she had no choice.

"Yes, Nick.

But I always hated him." "And you didn't tell me," he said.
There was no note of reproach in his tone, yet in some fashion it hurt her.
"Nick--darling, you--you've only got one arm," she said.

"And he's such a great, strong bully." Nick uttered a sudden fierce laugh.