“I have fallen in love,” said the other. “I only knew it to-day. Yes, her, Madge Ellington. Good God, man, I love her! And I am painting her—I see her nearly daily alone; it is my business to study her face and get to know her——”
His voice dropped suddenly.
“What am I to do?” he said after a moment. “Philip, the whole thing——”
“Ah, you can’t go on,” said Merivale quickly. “You must see that. Wherever our paths lie, there is honour——”
“Honour?” cried Evelyn almost savagely. “Have I not as good a right to love her as Philip has? You can’t tie one down like that! Besides, how can I help loving her? Night and day are not less in my control. Besides, I have no reason to suppose that she loves me, so what harm is done? But if she does or should——”
Again he stopped, for there was no need to go on; the conclusion of the sentence was not less clear because it was unspoken. After a moment he continued.
“And what was your view just now about renunciation for me?” he asked.
Merivale got up.
“I don’t know what to say to you,” he said. “What do you propose, you yourself?”
“I propose to tell her what I know—that I love her,” said he.