“Ah, no, of course not!”
“My conscience will not let me play the hypocrite.”
“Your conscience, Richard! Ah, this is beautiful!”
It was easy to see that the man’s attitude of tragic self-righteousness roused all the scorn in the woman’s nature. Jeffray did not appear to realize how dishonorable his sentiments were when viewed in the calm light of impartial reason. He was disgustingly confident of his own honor. His smug conceit exasperated the lady.
“Richard,” she said, her voice sounding harsh and strained.
Jeffray faced her steadily.
“You have come to tell me that you are not going to marry me. That is so, is it not?”
“I have come to confess that my love is no longer what it was.”
“Did I not say so, cousin? What is the use of our clipping and trimming our phrases? To put it bluntly, you are sick of me.”
Jeffray regarded her as though trying to read her thoughts.