"You're perfectly right, Bannister," he said quietly. "Everything you
have said is quite true. And now would you mind going?"
"I've not finished yet."
"Yes, you have."
Bailey hesitated. The first time frenzy had left him, and he was
beginning to be a little ashamed of himself for having expressed his
views in a manner which, though satisfying, was, he felt, less
dignified than he could have wished.
He looked at Kirk, who was standing stiffly by the door. Something in
his attitude decided Bailey to leave well alone. Such had been his
indignation that it was only now that for the first time it struck him
that his statement of opinion had not been made without considerable
bodily danger to himself. Jarred nerves had stood him in the stead of
courage; but now his nerves were soothed and he saw things clearly.
He choked down what he had intended to say and walked out. Kirk closed
the door softly behind him and began to pace the studio floor as he had
done on that night when Ruth had fought for her life in the room
upstairs.
His mind worked slowly at first. Then, as it cleared, he began to think
more and more rapidly, till the thoughts leaped and ran like tongues of
fire scorching him.
It was all true. That was what hurt. Every word that Bailey had flung
at him had been strictly just.
He had thought himself a fine, romantic fellow.
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