“You ought to have known, Ward, and so should I, that no woman would ever have anything but hatred for another woman her husband falls in love with.”
“But what I’ve given you she never had! I want you to believe me when I say that I was really deceived by what I took to be her wholly friendly attitude.”
“It doesn’t make the least difference now, Ward. I know you wouldn’t have taken me to see her if you’d known what would happen. I’ll never have any but the kindest thoughts of you. Please believe that.”
She moved a little away from him and leaned back, her hands relaxed in her lap.
“It’s all been a mistake—everything—from the beginning,” she went on in a low voice.
“My loving you hasn’t been a mistake,” he said earnestly. “Nothing has changed that or can ever change it.”
“You merely think that. If you didn’t see me for a while you’d forget me,” she said, following unconsciously the ritual of unhappy lovers in all times.
“No,” he gently protested. “That isn’t the way of it. You don’t really think that. Please say that you don’t.”
His tone of pleading caused her to turn to him and fling her arms about his neck.
“Oh, I love you so! I love you so!” she sobbed.