She stood with the receiver at her ears, flushing to the tips of them under his rebuke.

She always did; she had known many, recently, but the quick pang of pain was never any less keen.

On the contrary.
"Don't you want to see me?
I have been away for ten days." "Yes, I want to see you, of course, but I'm not anxious to spring a mine under myself--under us both by going into your house at this time." "My brother has not been here in a week." "Does that accidental fact bar his possible appearance ten minutes from now ?" She wondered, vaguely, whether he was afraid of anything except possible damage to her reputation.

She had, lately, considered this question on several occasions.

Being no coward, as far as mere fear for her life was concerned, she found it difficult to attribute such fear to him.