"Never mind ... if it is true, I am very sorry for you—for Hildreth's sake, for yours, for mine ... but I want to warn you, if it is not true, to look out ... you, as a friend, owe me some obligations ... I have taken you in here, accepted you as one almost of my family, and—"
"But, Penton, this is unfair," I lied, "unfair even to suspect me—"
"If it had been anybody but you, Johnnie, I would have been suspicious weeks ago ... Oh, I know, Hildreth ... she is giving all the manifestations ... how her face shines, how beautiful she has grown, as she does, with a new heart interest!... and her taking my little cottage ... ousting me from it....
"If it was anyone else," and he fetched a deep sigh, with tears standing in his eyes, leaving the sentence incomplete.
At that moment I was impelled almost to cast myself at his feet, to confess, and beg forgiveness....
"I want to warn you," he went on, "of Hildreth ... once before this has happened ... she is a varietist by nature, as I am essentially a monogamist."
"—and the free love idea, it was you who taught her this, brought her into contact with Havelock Ellis, Ellen Key, Rosa Von Mayerreder?"
"I deny that. I believe in human freedom ... divorce ... remarriage ... but not in extreme sex-radicalism ... Hildreth has misinterpreted me ... the people you mention are great idealists, but in many ways they go too far ... true—I brought Hildreth into contact with these books; but only that she might use her own judgment, not accept them wholly and blindly, as she has done...."
I looked at the man. He was sincere. An incredible, naïve, almost idiotic purity shone in his face....
Again I was impelled to confess. Again I held my tongue. Again I lied.