Then another thought came.
Such a public scene would immediately collect a crowd at the corner, and Lillian’s name would be dragged in the dust.
The world has no mercy upon a woman who leaves her husband and runs away with another man—the latter loses no caste, but she, poor creature, can never climb up again.
That is the law of human justice—woman was given a nobler, purer nature than man, and when she sins it is unpardonable.
It has been so ever since the world was, and will be the same always.
While Eric struggled between what he desired to do and what policy dictated, the choice was taken from him altogether.
Fate decided.
Prescott had placed his charge in the hack and entered himself.
The driver slammed the door, and mounted nimbly to his box.
If Eric meant to act it must be now, or the chance was gone forever.