nor could she explain why

She could not say that she found the vision of herself walkingin a crocodile with her hair down her back peculiarly unjustand horrible, nor could she explain why Hirst's assumption ofthe superiority of his nature and experience had seemed to her notonly galling but terrible--as if a gate had clanged in her face. 　　Pacing up and down the terrace beside Hewet she said bitterly: 　　"It's no good; we should live separate; we cannot understand each other;we only bring out what's worst."Hewet brushed aside her generalisation as to the natures ofthe two sexes, for such generalisations bored him and seemedto him generally untrue. But, knowing Hirst, he guessed fairlyaccurately what had happened, and, though secretly much amused,was determined that Rachel should not store the incidentaway in her mind to take its place in the view she had of life. 　　"Now you'll hate him," he said, "which is wrong. Poor old Hirst--he can't help his method. And really, Miss Vinrace, he was doing his best;he was paying you a compliment--he was trying--he was trying--"he could not finish for the laughter that overcame him. 　　Rachel veered round suddenly and laughed out too. She saw that therewas something ridiculous about Hirst, and perhaps about herself. 　　"It's his way of making friends, I suppose," she laughed. "Well--Ishall do my part. I shall begin--'Ugly in body, repulsive in mindas you are, Mr. Hirst--""Hear, hear!" cried Hewet. "That's the way to treat him. You see,Miss Vinrace, you must make allowances for Hirst. He's lived allhis life in front of a looking-glass, so to speak, in a beautifulpanelled room, hung with Japanese prints and lovely old chairsand tables, just one splash of colour, you know, in the right place,--between the windows I think it is,--and there he sits hour afterhour with his toes on the fender, talking about philosophy andGod and his liver and his heart and the hearts of his friends. 　　They're all broken. You can't expect him to be at his best ina ballroom. He wants a cosy, smoky, masculine place, where he canstretch his legs out, and only speak when he's got something to say. 　　For myself, I find it rather dreary. But I do respect it.