"Do you want me to go to him?"
"Yes—if your heartfelt conclusion is that you can live a finer, worthier life so."
"Don't you know I love you dearly?"
"I know you love us both."
"I've never stopped to contrast or compare. I was your wife."
"But I ask you again not to remember that. Decide between us, or decide against us. There's that alternative. I've thought of that for you. Once you said that, as you couldn't have both, you'd have neither. That was in jest; but the course is still open in earnest if the road to your peace points there."
"To leave you. Oh, Myles, how you must have suffered and suffered and thought before you could say these things to me."
She put her arms about him and pressed close to him. The light had stolen round and, one by one, the diamonds of wan silver were disappearing. He showed no responsive emotion, but stroked the small hand on his breast wearily.
"Yes, I have thought a good deal. Will you decide what you are going to do in a week? Is that long enough?"
"How wicked—how wicked I have been in this. To think we can be wicked day after day and never know it! And your patience! And how extraordinary that you had it in you to speak in this cold, calculating way!"