"It's the only safety for us. There's no use. No hope, either. And it's too dangerous—with no outlook, no possible chance that waiting may help us. There's not a ghost of a chance that we ever can marry. That is the real peril for us.... So—I'll play the game.... I'll go to him now—before it's too late,—before you and I have made each other wretched for life—and before I have something still worse on my conscience!"
"What?"
"My husband's death! He'll kill himself if I let you take me away somewhere."
After a silence he said in a low voice:
"Is that what you have been afraid of?"
"Yes."
"You believe he will kill himself if you divorce him?"
"I—I am certain of it."
"Why are you certain?"
"I can't tell you why."