"But she herself had told me—Garda had told me that she—— However, I begin to think that I have never comprehended Garda."
"Don't try."
"I love her all the same. That afternoon when she was on her way to Madam Giron's to see Lucian, and I took her place, it seemed to me that day that an opportunity had been given to me to complete my penance to the full, and crush out my own miserable folly. I could save her in your eyes, and I could lose myself; for, after that, you could have, of course, only contempt for me. I believed that you loved her, I didn't see how you could help it (I don't see very well even now). And I believed, too, that under all her fancies, her real affection was yours; or would come back to you."
"All wrong, Margaret, the whole of it. Overstrained, exaggerated."
"It may be so, I was very unhappy, I had brooded over everything so long. Next, Lanse came back. And that was a godsend."
"Godsend!" said Winthrop, his face darkening.
"Yes. It took me away from you."
"To him."
"You have never understood—I was only the house-keeper—he wished to be made comfortable, that was all. It was a great deal better for me there."
"Was it, indeed; you looked so well and happy all that time!" His joyousness was gone now; anger had come again into his eyes.