“Oh, don’t you know?”
“No, I don’t,” he said. “You’re surely not mourning for that brute of a man to whom you had promised to sacrifice your life?”
She shook her head, and buried her face in her hands again. He could see that the tears were dropping between her fingers, and they seemed to fall red hot upon his heart.
“Then what is it?” His tone was almost sharp in its demand, but she only cried the harder. Her slender shoulders were shaking with her grief now.
He put his hand down softly and touched her bowed head.
“Won’t you tell me, Dear?” he breathed, and, stooping, knelt beside her.
The sobs ceased, and she was quite still for a moment, while his hand still lay on her hair with that gentle, pleading touch.
“It is—because you married me—in—that way—without knowing—— Oh, can’t you see how terrible——”
Oh, the folly and blindness of love! Gordon got up from his knees as if she had stung him.
“You need not feel bad about that any more,” he said in a hurt tone. “Did I not tell you I would set you free at once? Surely no one in his senses could call you bound after such circumstances.”