“But the past must be spoken of,” she rejoined vehemently, “and shall be.”
“If you are determined, it must be so. You will find me very forbearing. My only wish is to put an end to this miserable business for once and for ever!”
“To put an end to me, perhaps,” she cried, thrusting her face close to mine in contemptuous defiance, “for once and for ever!”
“At all events,” I said, “so far as my own life is concerned. I wish to shut you out from my life from this time forth.”
“How do you propose to do that?” she asked.
“By paying you for it,” I replied, shortly.
“You will have to bid high.”
“I am prepared to bid high.”
“There is not only the question of living,” she said, with a dark look, “there is the question of a woman’s feelings to be considered. You brought against me a charge of unfaithfulness—you accused me of being a vile woman, of low character and low morals. Do you still believe it?”