The madness that every human being may have once was upon her.
Such a madness is destructive, and here was something more vulnerable than herself.
'Did he tell you how I pressed him ?' There was no red tide this time, nor ever again whilst the interview lasted.

To bow in affirmation was insufficient; with an effort he answered: 'I understood so.' She answered with an icy sarcasm: 'You understood so! Oh, I don't doubt he embellished the record with some of his own pleasantries.

But you understood it; and that is sufficient.' After a pause she went on: 'Did he tell you that he had refused me ?' 'Yes!' Harold knew now that he was under the torture, and that there was no refusing.

She went on, with a light laugh, which wrung his heart even more than her pain had done.

.