"See the stars, Paul, smiling down so calmly. How can they when hearts are aching? When I was a child, I loved the stars. I fancied, too, that they loved me, and I would run out under their watchful eyes, singing for very joy, sure they were guiding my life and that some day I would be happy, gloriously happy. Somehow, Paul, I always expected to be happy—always!—till now! Now the stars seem to mock me. I must have been born under a baleful conjunction, I guess. Oh, I told you, Paul, that Opals were unlucky. I warned you—didn't I warn you? I may have tempted you, too, but—I didn't mean to do it!"
"Bless your dear heart, girl, you weren't to blame!"
"But you said—that night—about the tiger——"
"Forgive me, Opal, I was not myself. I was—excited. I didn't mean that."
After a moment, she said, musingly, "It is just as I said, Paul. I was born to go to the devil, so it is well—well for you, I mean—and perhaps for me—that you and I cannot marry." He shook his head, but she went on, unheeding. "Paul, if I am destined to be a disgrace to someone—and they say I am—I'd rather bring reproach upon his name than on yours!"
"But why marry at all, if you feel like that? Why, it's—it's damnable!"
"Don't you see, Paul, I am foreordained to evil—marked a bad woman from the cradle! Marriage is the only salvation, you know, for girls with my inheritance. It's the sanctuary that keeps a woman good and 'happy ever after.'"
"It would be more apt, in my opinion, to drive one to forbidden wine! A marriage like that, I mean—for one like you."
"But at least a married woman has a name—whatever she may do. She's—protected. She isn't——"
But Paul would hear no more.