“I’ve no right to be here,” he exclaimed bitterly. “I’ve felt that ever since I crossed the threshold and saw you sitting here—as you used to sit here with me, Virginia.”
Her lips were still trembling, but she was recovering from the surprise. She rose from the piano and went to a more distant chair, which stood a little in the shadow. She did not want him to see her face too plainly.
“Sit down, William,” she said pleasantly, suppressing the quiver in her voice. “I’ve just heard the news over the ’phone. I’m so happy about Leigh!”
He did not sit down. He began, instead, to march up and down the room, his hands behind him and his head bowed gloomily.
“I’m glad about Leigh, too,” he replied grimly. “He’s my brother—and I ought to have been in his place! I’m glad, but——”
He broke off, and continued his pacing. Virginia was startled again, this time painfully. Her heart sank; she began to dread what he might say next. She saw that he was almost beside himself. Old memories rushed back, too—old, touching, tender, and intimate things. This was the man she had once promised to marry, the man who had professed to love her so much. It seemed to her that she had a moment of clairvoyance. She knew the thoughts that must be thronging into his mind, too. She was human, she was aware that he had repented, that he had had bitter cause to repent; but she tried not to think of that.
At last he stopped short and stood looking at her, his face as deeply flushed as it had been pale. She made an effort to speak, but it seemed impossible, and she averted her eyes. It was true, she knew now that it was true—Fanchon had deceived him. The whole miserable tragedy that had crossed her own life, as well as his, was laid bare before her. She could not look at him; she felt a tightening in her throat.
“Listen”—he was still standing in front of her, a grim figure of anger and despair—“I want to tell you the truth. I must tell you, Virginia——”
She stopped him with an involuntary gesture of protest.
“Oh, William, how can you?” she cried softly, reproachfully.