“Oh, no;” and her voice came stealing to his senses like half- forgotten music; “that is, yes, alas! But is it really you? Oh, Arthur, my darling, have you come back to me?” and she moved towards him with outstretched arms.
Already they were closing round him, and he could feel her breath upon his cheek, when the charm broke, and he wrenched himself free.
“Get back; do not dare to touch me. Do you know what you are? The poor lost girl is not fallen so low as you. She must get her bread; but, at any rate, I could have given you bread. What! fresh from your husband’s arms, and ready to throw yourself into mine! Shame upon you! Were you not married yesterday?”
“Oh, Arthur, have pity! You do not understand. Oh, merciful God——”
“Have pity! What need for pity? Were you not married yesterday?” and he laughed bitterly. “I come—I come from far to congratulate the new- made wife. It is a little odd, though, I thought to marry you myself. See, here was my wedding present;” and he tore the diamond necklace from his pocket. “A snake, you see; a good emblem! Away with it, its use is gone!”
The diamonds went flashing through the sunlight, and fell with a little splash into the lake.
“What! are you not sorry to see so much valuable property wasted? You have a keen appreciation of property!”
Angela sank down on her knees before him, like a broken lily. Her looks grew faint and despairing. The stately head bowed itself to his feet, and all the golden weight of hair broke loose. But he did not pause or spare her. He ground his teeth. No one could have recognized in this maddened, passion-inspired man the pleasant, easy-tempered Arthur of an hour before. His nature was stirred to its depths, and they were deep.
“You miserable woman! do not kneel to me. If it were not unmanly, I could spurn you with my foot. Do you know, girl, you who swore to love me till time had passed—yes, and for all eternity, you who do love me at this moment—and therein lies your shame—that you have killed me? You have murdered my heart. I trusted you, Angela, I trusted you, I gave you all my life, all that was best in me; and now in reward— degraded as you are—I must always love you as much as I despise you. Even now I feel that I cannot hate you and forget you. I must love you, and I must despise you.”
She gazed up at him like a dumb beast at its butcher; she could not speak, her voice had gone.