Gee,

believe me noone that has worked alongside me would describe me as a walkover, but I do treat people the way I expect to be treated.  If I had made the mistake in this case I would have been at Alice's desk with a sincere apology and trying to make amends and I would like to think that Alice would give me the chance to do that.  I wouldn't expect her to trust me immediately because trust is earned and built up over time.

Some of the best colleagues I have worked with have been people who got off on the wrong foot with me and yet giving a second chance has allowed the situation to be turned round to both our advantages.

As to siding with perpetrator or victim ... I am siding with noone ... I never take an individual's side in a disagreement - I look at both sides of the equation and try to encourage them to do the same.  If more people thought about how another person is feeling in the situation we would all get along much more readily in the world - as Marie said it is easy to mistake a moment's thoughtlessness for a deliberate slight.