And then suddenly I read her purpose.  
"Mary," I cried, and stood up and laid my hand upon her arm, "Tell me what is it you mean to do. What do you mean to do?"
 
She looked up at me defensively and for a moment neither of us .
 
"Mary," I said, and could not say what was in my thoughts.
 
 
 
"You are wrong," she lied at last....
 
She stood up too and faced me. I held her shoulder and looked into her eyes.
 
The gong of my little clock broke the silence.
 
"I must go, Stephen," she said. "I did not see how the time was slipping by."
 
............