No wonder; he had given up hope long ago, but not trust
and faith; now, these were blasted utterly. In any religion, whether
true or false, the fanatic is happier, if not wiser, than the infidel;
if you can not replace it with a better, it is cruel to shake the
foundation of the simplest creed. Mark's voice--hollow, and hoarse, and
changed--could not but betray his agony.
"God help us both! Has it come to this--that you have no words to answer
me, when I dare to hint at your dishonor?"
She looked up quickly, flushing to her white brow, rose-red with anger.
"I will not endure this, even from you. Understand at once--I deny your
right to question me." The clear blue eyes met the violet ones with a
steady, judicial calmness, undazzled by their ominous lightning.
"Listen to me quietly--two minutes longer," he said, "and then resent
my presumption as much as you will. Three years ago it pleased you to
make me the subject of an experiment. How far you acted heedlessly, and
in ignorance of the consequences, I have never stopped to inquire--it
would be wasting time; the sophistries of coquetry are too subtle for
me.
Pages:
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297