‘And I suppose you are quite ready to accept such a calumny!’ she cried scornfully.
‘Nothing of the sort,’ returned George. ‘I’m sure you’d never go as far as that!’
She gave a gesture of supreme disdain, and repeated the sense word for word with contemptuous emphasis.
‘You’re sure I’d never go as far as that! How good and kind of you to have so much faith in me! Do you know that every syllable you utter to me is an insult and an outrage, and that if Mr. Bradley heard you talk as you have done, he would give you the whipping you so richly deserve!’
Here George Craik’s self-control gave way; his face grew black as thunder, and clenching his fist, he gave vent to an angry oath.
‘D——— him! I should like to see him try it on. But I see what it is. He has dragged you down to his level at last, the infernal atheist! He thinks nothing sacred, and his New Church, as he calls it, is as foul as himself. O, I know! He preaches that marriage isn’t a sacrament at all, but only a contract to be broken by the will of either party; and as you agree with him in everything, I suppose you agree with him in that, and are his mistress after all!’ ‘That is enough!’ exclaimed Alma, who was now pale as death. ‘Leave this place at once, and never let me see your face again.’
‘I won’t go till I have spoken my mind; and don’t make any mistake; I shall speak it to him as well as to you!’
‘If you have any sense left, you will do nothing of the kind.’
‘Won’t I? Wait and see!’ returned George, perfectly beside himself with rage. ‘As for you, I wonder you have the courage to look me in the face. I followed you both to-night, and watched you; I saw you embracing and kissing, and it turned me sick with shame. There, the secret’s out! I shall speak to my father, and see what he has to say about your goings on.’
As he spoke, Alma approached him and looked him steadily in the face. She was still ghastly pale, and her voice trembled as she spoke, but her entire manner expressed, not fear, but lofty indignation.