She shook her head incredulously.
“I never saw it. I never knew.” And then: “His poor wife——”
Justin lit his pipe.
“I only met her once. She’s married again, I believe.”
There was a silence, with Laura whipping over page after page of the volume in her hand. Suddenly she flamed out—
“Such women—such women——They make you ashamed.” Her eyes were pitiless.
Justin frowned thoughtfully.
“I don’t know. I don’t suppose he left her much to live on. And she was an awfully pretty girl.”
But at that, after one look flashed at him, she stared the more resolutely at her book, lest he should see the amazement, the quick incredulous appreciation, in her eyes. There had been no superiority in his voice—nothing but the real tolerance of comprehension! It was not he, but she, Laura, who stood reproved for a lack of common charity.... Poor—young—an awfully pretty girl!... He was right.... It was not for them to judge.... But what had happened to Justin that he could see it and say it?... In a bewilderment so near happiness that it frightened her, she began to talk at random.
“Yes—yes—I suppose so. Well—will you take it then? There’s heaps of reading in it.”