“I have been tempted, Drake, but I am not that sort of man. I made a bargain and will carry it out faithfully.”
“And if Lady Mildred tries to persuade you to give it up?” Drake persisted.
“I said before that she will not do so. If she does, it will make no difference.”
“But already you have given in, for you had determined that you would not try to win your wife until you could go to her with clean hands.”
Gaunt’s face flushed at the rebuke, for he could not deny its justice, and it was impossible to explain that he had made no effort to win Lady Mildred, so he remained silent.
“I have a presentiment that misfortune is near at hand. Gaunt, won’t you go to your wife and tell her of that other thing? It seems to me that you have gained her love under false pretenses,” Drake continued in a low voice.
Gaunt rose from his chair and uttered an exclamation of anger.
“Drake, you are going too far,” he cried vehemently, for the accusation had struck home.
“I only wish to save you from great trouble, and it is not an easy task to say these things for I recognize what a hard task I am setting you. Remember your vow—you promised that your future life should be lived in accordance with the teaching of Christ. It was an almost superhuman task that you set yourself, for you lacked belief in the love of Christ and the Christian spirit which alone could give you the strength to carry out your determination. Don’t think I want to preach to you, Gaunt, but I fear that you will fail, unless you force yourself to regard everything from a different point of view. You told me that you believe that God had given you your wife’s life in answer to your prayer. Do you still believe that?” Drake asked gently.
“Yes.”