. . and . . . and I so loved our partnership, and was proud
of it. Don't you see?--I can't go on being your partner if you make love
to me. And I was so happy."
Tears of disappointment were in her eyes, and she caught a swift sob in
her throat.
"I warned you," he said gravely. "Such unusual situations between men
and women cannot endure. I told you so at the beginning."
"Oh, yes; it is quite clear to me what you did." She was angry again,
and the feminine appeal had disappeared. "You were very discreet in your
warning. You took good care to warn me against every other man in the
Solomons except yourself."
It was a blow in the face to Sheldon. He smarted with the truth of it,
and at the same time he smarted with what he was convinced was the
injustice of it. A gleam of triumph that flickered in her eye because of
the hit she had made decided him.
"It is not so one-sided as you seem to think it is," he began. "I was
doing very nicely on Berande before you came. At least I was not
suffering indignities, such as being accused of cowardly conduct, as you
have just accused me. Remember--please remember, I did not invite you to
Berande. Nor did I invite you to stay on at Berande. It was by staying
that you brought about this--to you--unpleasant situation.
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