"
"And they sent you here--to me?"
"Yes," she answered, "and I was here also a few weeks ago, but you
must not ask me anything about that."
Mr. Sabin's eyebrows contracted, his face darkened. She shrank
a little away from him.
"So it is you who have robbed me of her, then," he said slowly.
"Yes, the description fits you well enough. I ask you, Lady Carey,
to remember the last time when chance brought you and me together.
Have I deserved this from you?"
She made a little gesture of impotence.
"Do be reasonable!" she begged. "What choice had I?"
He looked at her steadfastly.
"The folly of women--of clever women such as you," he said, "is
absolutely amazing. You have deliberately made a slave of
yourself--"
"One must have distraction," she murmured.
"Distraction! And so you play at this sort of thing. Is it worth
while?"
Her eyes for a moment clouded over with weariness.
"When one has filled the cup of life to the brim for many years,"
she said, "what remains that is worth while?"
He bowed.
"You are a young woman," he said. "You should not yet have learned
to speak with such bitterness. As for me--well, I am old indeed.
In youth and age the affections claim us. I am approaching my
second childhood."
She laughed derisively, yet not unkindly. "What folly!" she
exclaimed.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55