"Not now. Please do not ask me to tell you. I have not yet had
time fully to consider it," and he blushed still more.
"And so you will not tell me?" A muscle twitched in her face and
she pushed back the chair she was holding. "Well then, come!" She
shook her head as if to expel useless thoughts, and, faster than
usual, went on in front of him.
He fancied that her mouth was unnaturally compressed in order to
keep back the tears. He was ashamed of having hurt her, and yet
he knew that the least weakness on his part would mean disaster,
i.e., would bind him to her. And to-day he feared this more than
anything, and silently followed her to the princess's cabinet.