“You must think of your husband and children and not entirely of yourself,” she added.
“If,” said Margaret, stammering as she spoke, “I tell Wilbur, I think it will kill him. If I tell the children, they will never really have a mother again. They will never forget. But if I do not tell, I shall not have myself. It is a horrible thing not to have yourself, Alice Mendon.”
“It is the only way.”
“It is easy for you to talk, Alice Mendon. You have never been tempted.”
“No,” replied Alice, “that is quite true. I have never been tempted because—I cannot be tempted.”
“It is no credit to you. You were made so.”
“Yes, that is true also. I was made so. It is no credit to me.”
Margaret tried to wrench her arm free from Annie's grasp.
“Let me go, Annie Eustace,” she said. “I hate you.”
“I don't care if you do,” replied Annie. “I don't love you any more myself. I don't hate you, but I certainly don't love you.”