“You have no right—I do not belong to you—never can—never, never!” I exclaimed. “You know it, and yet do this!”
“I did not believe it before, not wholly, not entirely—the suspicion was too dreadful,” he answered, turning white. “I will not believe it even yet, till your lips utter it in words.”
“Why should I? You know that it is true—that a barrier of iron rests between your love and mine.”
“It is enough!” he answered, turning still more deathly pale. “Zana, it is enough—you have stung me to the soul.”
“I have not imparted to you any portion of my shame,” I answered with bitter tears.
He started as if a viper had stung him.
“Your shame, Zana!—your shame! Speak out, girl—if another had said that word!”——
We both started. He broke off sharply. Upham had crept, unseen, close to his elbow.
“Ha, Irving—so you have found the truant in her nest! Hasn’t she grown to be a bird of Paradise, but sly as ever; aint you, Zana?”
I stood in astonishment gazing at him, without uttering a word. This audacity took away my breath.