"Well, we can't only think of ourselves in this world. You know, other things being equal, there's nothing in the world I'd love more than to marry you. But it's quite out of the question. I know Dorothy: nothing would induce her to divorce me."
Kitty was becoming horribly frightened. She began to cry again. He got up and sat down beside her with his arm round her waist.
"Try not to upset yourself, darling. We must keep our heads."
"I thought you loved me . . ."
"Of course I love you," he said tenderly. "You surely can't have any doubt of that now."
"If she won't divorce you Walter will make you co-respondent."
He took an appreciable time to answer. His tone was dry.
"Of course that would ruin my career, but I'm afraid it wouldn't do you much good. If the worst came to the worst I should make a clean breast of it to Dorothy; she'd be dreadfully hurt and wretched, but she'd forgive me." He had an idea. "I'm not sure if the best plan wouldn't be to make a clean breast of it anyhow. If she went to your husband I daresay she could persuade him to hold his tongue."
"Does that mean you don't want her to divorce you?"
"Well, I have got my boys to think of, haven't I? And naturally I don't want to make her unhappy. We've always got on very well together. She's been an awfully good wife to me, you know."