I told her I would never sleep under the
same roof with her again. She laughed--if you could hear her laugh, you
would excuse me for more than I have done--and said, 'You can't get a
divorce.' She was right there. So it was settled that we were to live
apart without any public scandal. But her people would not accept this
position. They sent a brother to bully me. It was an unwise move. My
temper was wilder in those days, and I had strong provocation; yet I
repent that I did not keep my hands off the throat of that wretched,
blustering civilian. It was all arranged peacefully at last, and I have
not seen her since, though I hear of her from time to time, as I did
yesterday. This happened eleven long years ago, and she has never given
me a chance of ridding myself of her since. She is always carefully
circumspect, and so works out a patient revenge, though I believe I did
her no wrong. You have heard all I dare to tell you, and all the truth.
Judge me now."
For the last few minutes a great battle had been waging in Cecil
Tresilyan's heart. Can the wisest of us, before the armies meet,
prophesy aright as to the issue of such an Armageddon?
Twice she tried to speak, and found her voice rebellious; at last she
answered, in a faint, broken tone, "I can not say how I pity you.
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