"So you love a married woman?"
"I do, and therefore no doubt am an object of horror in your eyes?"
The child had fallen asleep on her breast, and rising to her feet she walked slowly to and fro, rocking him in her arms.
"I have no right to judge you," she said evasively, "but you can hardly expect me--a wife and a mother--to say that I approve of such a dishonourable passion."
Eustace winced at the scorn of the last words.
"No, I cannot," he answered slowly, "but let me put the case before you in another way. Suppose a woman is married to a man who cares absolutely nothing about her, neglects her in every way, insults her by his passion for another woman----"
"Oh!" she cried, shrinking as if he had struck her a blow.
"I am putting a supposititious case, remember," he said hastily. "Well, this woman has a lover who adores her, but who has never ventured to express this passion, which the world calls dishonourable. The woman returns that passion and has only to say one word to the lover in order to be released from the curse of a loveless marriage, a neglectful husband, an unhappy home. What should that woman do in such a case?"
"Remain true to her marriage vows," she said grandly.
"But if the husband is not true."