"Because I have no right. I--I am the wife of another."
The head drooped lower, the hair shadowing the face, and Winston, his
lips set and white, stared at her, scarcely comprehending. A moment
later he sprang to his feet, one hand pressed across his eyes, slowly
grasping the full measure of her confession.
"The wife of another!" he burst forth, his voice shaking. "Great God!
You? What other? Farnham?"
The bowed head sank yet lower, as though in mute answer, and his ears
caught the echo of a single muffled sob. Suddenly she glanced up at
him, and then rose unsteadily to her feet clinging to the back of the
chair for support.
"Mr. Winston," her voice strengthening with each word spoken, "it hurts
me to realize that you feel so deeply. I--I wish I might bear the
burden of this mistake all alone. But I cannot stand your contempt, or
have you believe me wholly heartless, altogether unworthy. We--we must
part, now and forever; there is no other honorable way. I tried so
hard to compel you to leave me before; I accepted that engagement at
the Gayety, trusting such an act would disgust you with me.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296