"Changed me?"
"For some days now you have been unlike yourself. Why visit upon me the sins of another? I suffer sufficiently as it is; I suffer always."
I could not understand the speech any more than if it had been Greek, and glanced to him for explanation.
"I look back on my past conduct, and cannot see that I am to blame. We were thrown together by circumstances; and if love stole unconsciously over us, it was neither my fault nor yours. I was wrong, you will say, to avow this love; I believe I was; it might have been better that I had held my tongue. But——"
"It would be better that you should hold it now, sir. I do not wish to enter upon any explanation. Quit your house, I will. Lady Chandos, were she made acquainted with what has passed, would be the first to send me from it."
Mr. Chandos rose and stood up by me. "Am I to understand that you wish to quit it because I have spoken of this love?"
"Yes; and because—because it is no longer a fit residence for me."
"Do you wish to imply that under no circumstances—that is, with any barrier that may exist now against my marrying removed—would you accept my love?"
The hot tears came into my eyes. Scarcely could I keep them from raining down.
"I wish to imply—to say—that not under any alteration of circumstances that the world can bring about, would I accept your love, Mr. Chandos. The very fact of your naming it to me is an insult."