. »What were you just about to ask
me?«
    »Is there anything he can do that would make you patch it up?«
    »With Mrs. Newsome?«
    Her assent, as if she had had a delicacy about sounding the name, was only
in her face; but she added with it: »Or is there anything he can do that would
make her try it?«
    »To patch it up with me?« His answer came at last in a conclusive headshake.
»There's nothing any one can do. It's over. Over for both of us.«
    Maria wondered, seemed a little to doubt. »Are you so sure for her?«
    »Oh yes - sure now. Too much has happened. I'm different for her.«
    She took it in then, drawing a deeper breath. »I see. So that as she's
different for you -«
    »Ah but,« he interrupted, »she's not.« And as Miss Gostrey wondered again:
»She's the same. She's more than ever the same. But I do what I didn't before -
I see her.«
    He spoke gravely and as if responsibly - since he had to pronounce; and the
effect of it was slightly solemn, so that she simply exclaimed »Oh!« Satisfied
and grateful, however, she showed in her own next words an acceptance of his
statement. »What then do you go home to?«
    He had pushed his plate a little away, occupied with another side of the
matter; taking refuge verily in that side and feeling so moved that he soon
found himself on his feet. He was affected in advance by what he believed might
come from her, and he would have liked to forestall it and deal with it
tenderly; yet in the presence of it he wished still more to be - though as
smoothly as possible - deterrent and conclusive. He put her question by for the
moment; he told her more about Chad. »It would have been impossible to meet me
more than he did last night on the question of the infamy of not sticking to
her.«
    »Is that what you called it for him - infamy?«
    »Oh rather! I described to him in detail the base creature he'd be, and he
quite agrees with me about it.«
    »So that it's really as if you had nailed him?«
    »Quite really as if -! I told him I should curse him.«
