"
"I am sure you would not have said anything that he should have
been offended about, Miss Hannay; it is not your nature, and I would
not believe it whoever told me, not even yourself; so he must be
in fault, and, of course, I have nothing more to say about it."
"He wasn't in fault at all, Mr. Wilson. I can't tell you what I
said, but it was very wrong and thoughtless on my part, and I have
been sorry for it ever since; and he has a perfect right to be
hurt and not to come near me, especially as"--and she hesitated
--"as I have acted badly since, and he has no reason for supposing
that I am sorry. And now you must not ask me any more about it; I
don't know why I have said as much to you as I have, only I know I
can trust you, and I like you very much, though I could never like
you in the sort of way you would want me to. I wish you didn't like
me like that."
"Oh, never mind me," he said earnestly. "I am all right, Miss Hannay;
I never expected anything, you know, so I am not disappointed, and
it has been awfully good of you talking to me as you have, and not
getting mad with me for interfering. But I can hear them coming
down from the terrace, and I must be off. I am on duty there, you
know, now. Bathurst has undertaken double work in that hole. I didn't
like it, really; it seemed mean to be getting out of the work and
letting him do it all, but he said that he liked work, and I really
think he does. I am sure he is always worrying himself because
he can't take his share in the firing on the roof; and when he is
working he hasn't time to think about it.
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