"I felt sure you were not married. Regina was only one of all the many women you have had with you for a time. She would have to give way to any woman you wanted to marry."
Everest's face grew still more set and cold, if that were possible.
"You see you chose to assume all that, and assumed wrongly," he said quietly, and his tones were like falling ice. "Had you accepted the idea that we were married you would have been wiser. Regina is virtually my wife. I should never place any other woman than her in that position. I shall be glad if you will try to grasp that now."
Sybil, unable to bear his gaze, his voice, beside herself with wretchedness, burst into tears.
She slipped from her chair to the floor and put her hands pleadingly on his knees.
"You can't mean it, Everest, I am sure you don't. It would be the wrecking of my life."
Everest's face did not change; he looked down upon her unmoved. She was very beautiful, but in that moment he did not even admire her. The passion for Regina, stirred now into a great blaze, seemed literally to hide this girl from him; moreover, she had deceived, entrapped and was now trying to coerce him.
"Do you not see that if I did marry you it would mean the wrecking of Regina's life?"
"I have not to think or care about Regina!"