Stella looked at her with aching eyes that, unlike Lilian's, were dry and tearless.
"Death!" she said, "there are things worse than death——"
"Stella!"
"Words one cannot mention, lest the winds should catch them up and spread them far and wide. Not even death could have divided us more effectually than we are divided."
Lilian shrank back appalled.
"What is it you say?" she breathed. "Stella, look at me! You will, you must tell me what you mean."
Stella did look at her, with a look that was awful in its calm despair.
"I was silent when he bade me speak; do you think that I can open my lips to you?"
Lilian hid her face in her hand, tremblingly.