"You never could take a joke, could you, Harvey?"
"But you said—"
"I'm sorry, Harvey. But I'm married now."
She was turning his own weapons on him. He was befuddled with her whims. He repeated, "You told me you loved me, that you were unhappy."
"You ought to have known I was only fooling you. I'm Mrs. Enslee now. And whom God hath joined—"
He was beside himself with rage. She had wheedled him out of his honor, and now she mocked him where she had left him. He sneered:
"God didn't join you and Enslee. God's voice doesn't speak every time a hired preacher reaches out for a wedding fee! It was the devil that joined you, and God keeps you asunder. God joined you with me. He meant us for each other. But you hadn't the courage to face a little poverty. You wanted prestige and position, and you bought them with the love that belonged to me. You haven't the courage now to deny that you are unhappy, that you love me still."
She trembled before the storm of his wrath. "But I don't—I don't love you any more. I am happy."
"You can't look me in the eyes, Persis, and repeat that lie."
She tried vainly to meet his glare. She mumbled weakly, "Why, I'm happy—enough."