“You’re not going to do anything of the sort!” he declared. “But we won’t argue that point now. First tell me this—why, in the name of God, when my father discovered you here at the Mordona two hours ago, did you admit that you were my mistress? Yes, and made me admit it!”
She spoke quietly, hoping to calm him by her reasonable voice. “It began with your father’s mistaken conception of our relations. His mistake saved us. It would have been foolish not to have fallen in with his mistake. Surely you understand that?”
“I didn’t understand it, and it made me sick!” he cried. “I backed you up, just because I knew you wanted me to. But I’m not going to stand any longer for this lying, this living in secret! I’m going to end it!”
“End it? How?”
“I’m not going to let my father, or any one else, think of you as my mistress! I’m going to tell him we’re married! And from now on everything’s going to be in the open!”
She had never liked him more than just then. Whatever else he might be in the future, she would never be able to forget him as he was at this his highest moment—frenzied, outraged, dominated by reckless impulse. But she saw the danger to her dreams in this attitude.
“It’s fine of you to say that, Jack, but you must not do it.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
She strove to keep her reasoning, soothing tone. “It ought to be plain to you, Jack. You are entirely dependent on your father. If he were told of our marriage—particularly since he’s so eager to have you marry that other girl—he’d be sure to cut you off in every way, and I’m not going to have that happen to you.” Within herself she was also saying that if Mr. Morton were told of the marriage, and if she and Jack lived in the open, father and son would inevitably and swiftly learn who she really was—and that would end everything. “We must keep it all quiet, Jack,” she went on, “and keep on waiting, and after a time we’ll have our chance to win your father around. You leave it to me.”
His face had suddenly darkened at mention of his father. “What did Clifford offer you in my father’s behalf, after we’d gone?” he demanded abruptly.