"But it makes such a difference," he pursued. "Even if it did not affect my wishes and desires, my duty would be——"
Regina looked up with a smile in her eyes, so darkened by suffering.
"Oh, Everest, what has duty to do with passionate love like ours? Once before you thought it your duty to marry me, and I would not have it. Don't you see that I want you to be happy? That is all I care about. Do your duty to the world, to others if you like, but do not think of it where I am concerned. Let it be all passion, pleasure, desire, with me or—nothing."
"But then there would be another to be considered, provided for, my sweet. Did you think of that?" Everest rejoined very softly.
"I knew I could always make much more money than I want for myself, the child could have had the rest."
Her voice was very faint, the light showed the drops of sweat standing out on her ashy forehead.
Everest bent over her.
"Are you in pain now?"
"Oh yes; I ache, I ache in every fibre; it is the constriction of lying so long without moving; but you must not worry about it; there will be such lots of it to bear!"