Arthur makes himself stop talking, expelling breath that might have turned itself into angrier words. He feels the need to be careful, with Bash. Bash doesn't fight back, either with anger or with tears, and it gives Arthur the feeling of being on a strike system.

He makes himself say "I'm sorry," before he then says: "A lot of people tried to tell me I didn't love her. But-- all right, that, that's not what you mean."