 to speak
plainly. Are you suggesting that I should make provision for the support of you
and your mother away from my intolerable proximity? My income is not large, as I
think you are aware, but of course if a demand of this kind is seriously made, I
must do my best to comply with it.«
    »It hurts me very much that you can understand me no better than this.«
    »I am sorry. I think we used to understand each other, but that was before
you were subjected to the influence of strangers.«
    In his perverse frame of mind he was ready to give utterance to any thought
which confused the point at issue. This last allusion was suggested to him by a
sudden pang of regret for the pain he was causing Marian; he defended himself
against self-reproach by hinting at the true reason of much of his harshness.
    »I am subjected to no influence that is hostile to you,« Marian replied.
    »You may think that. But in such a matter it is very easy for you to deceive
yourself.«
    »Of course I know what you refer to, and I can assure you that I don't
deceive myself.«
    Yule flashed a searching glance at her.
    »Can you deny that you are on terms of friendship with a - a person who
would at any moment rejoice to injure me?«
    »I am friendly with no such person. Will you say whom you are thinking of?«
    »It would be useless. I have no wish to discuss a subject on which we should
only disagree unprofitably.«
    Marian kept silence for a moment, then said in a low, unsteady voice:
    »It is perhaps because we never speak of that subject that we are so far
from understanding each other. If you think that Mr Milvain is your enemy, that
he would rejoice to injure you, you are grievously mistaken.«
    »When I see a man in close alliance with my worst enemy, and looking to that
enemy for favour, I am justified in thinking that he would injure me if the
right kind of opportunity offered. One need not be very deeply read in human
nature to have assurance of that.«
    »But I know Mr Milvain!«
    »You know him?«
    »Far better than you can, I am sure. You draw conclusions from general
principles; but I know that they don't apply in this case.«
    »I have no doubt you sincerely think so. I repeat, that nothing can be
gained by such a discussion as this.«
