They left me for dead.

I wonder--" "What ?" "If--it wouldn't have been just as well!" "You mustn't talk like that! You just mustn't! You're with friends, real friends, who want to help you all they can." And then with a little flash of forced humour, because of the recurrent tightening in her throat--"Who could be friendless, with all that money ?" Instantly she felt like biting her tongue.

He would know nothing of the sad American habit of trying to be funny to keep a wobbly situation on its legs.
He would interpret it as heartlessness.

"I didn't mean that!" With the Irish impulsiveness which generally weighs acts in retrospection, she reached over and gripped his hand.
"I say, you two!" Hawksley closed his eyes for a second.

"Wanting to buck up a chap because you re that sort! All right.