"It was the knowledge of this that made me feel that I had wronged him—that I had defrauded him of the soul of love and given him only the poor flesh. It was this that held me to him all those wretched years—that kept me with him till the end, even through his madness. At last I buried your memory, told myself that I had forgotten."
"We will let the world go, dearest," he said passionately. "Come to me."
But she shook her head, and, still smiling, held him at a distance.
"It will never go," she answered, "for it is not the world's way. But whatever comes to us, there is one thing you must remember—that you must never forget for one instant while you live. In good or evil, in life or death, there is no height so high nor any depth so low that I will not follow you."
Then waving him from her with a decisive gesture, she turned from him and went swiftly home across the moonlit fields.
CHAPTER VI. Treats of the Tragedy Which Wears a Comic Mask
As she hastened on, Christopher's presence was still with her—his arm still enveloped her, his voice still spoke in her ears; and so rapt was the ecstasy in which she moved that it was with a positive shock that she found herself presently before the little area which led into the brick kitchen in the basement of the Hall. Here from the darkness her name was spoken in a stifled voice, while a hand reached out and clutched her by the shoulder.
"I say, Maria, I've been waiting hours to speak to you."
Forcing back the cry upon her lips, she opened the door and stole softly into the kitchen. Then, turning, she faced Will with a frightened gesture.
"How reckless—how very reckless!" she exclaimed in a whisper.