“But,” persisted the other, “you seem not to understand what decency requires. In the first place it is imperatively necessary,” and as she said this there was a look of genuine anxiety in her eyes, “that you should hold no intercourse whatever with persons of the opposite sex.”
Mrs. Dale said nothing to this; and the look of questioning solicitude in the face of the other grew deeper.
“Surely,” she asked at last, “you must see this yourself?”
“That,” answered Mrs. Dale deliberately, “is also a matter which rests entirely with me. I won’t be dictated to on that subject any more than on any other.”
“Well, then, I warn you that I shall have to keep you in strict surveillance, and that if I hear of your encouraging, or even permitting, the attentions of any man, young or old, I shall feel myself bound in honor to put him in possession of the facts of your history.”
“And if you do,” retorted Mrs. Dale, rising and speaking in a low tone full of fire and passionate resentment, “if you interfere with me in my quiet and harmless life by telling any person whom I choose to call my friend the horrible thing that you hold over my head, I will break away from you and your surveillance once and for all. I will have the whole story published in the papers, with your share in it as well as mine, and let the world decide which of us is the most to blame: the young woman who has wrecked and poisoned her whole life by one rash and wicked act, or the old one who drove her to it, and then used it forever afterward to goad and madden her!”
She paused, and leaned against the table, white to the lips with intense excitement, panting with her own emotion. The other lady had grown white too, and she looked frightened as she answered:
“You are allowing your passion to carry you away again. I should have thought you had been cured of that.” The younger lady shuddered, but said nothing; “I was bound to put you on your guard, that was all.”
Mrs. Dale moved restlessly. Her face was livid and moist, her hands were shaking:
“Surely you have done that!” she said ironically. “Even the Inquisitors of Spain used to let their victims have a little rest from the torture sometimes; just to let the creatures get up their strength again, to give more sport on a future occasion!”