"
"Why then?"
"Because he was afraid the world would say that I had done so. Poor
shallow creature! But he shall be punished."
"I do not know how you can punish him."
"Leave that to me. I have another thing to do much more difficult." She
paused, looking for a moment up into his face, and then turning her eyes
upon the ground. As he said nothing, she went on. "I have to excuse myself
to you for having accepted him."
"I have never blamed you."
"Not in words. How should you? But if you have not blamed me in your
heart, I despise you. I know you have. I have seen it in your eyes when
you have counselled me either to take the poor creature or to leave him.
Speak out, now, like a man. Is it not so?"
"I never thought you loved him."
"Loved him! Is there anything in him or about him that a woman could love?
Is he not a poor social stick; a bit of half-dead wood, good to make a
post of if one wants a post? I did want a post so sorely then!"
"I don't see why."
"No, indeed. It was natural that you should be inclined to marry again."
"Natural that I should be inclined to marry again! And is that all? It is
hard sometimes to see whether men are thick-witted, or hypocrites so
perfect that they seem to be so.
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