Athalie

"It is."

"And you came over here to collect sufficient evidence to force me?"

"I had no other choice."

He nodded: "By your own confession, then, you believe either in her

chastity and my sense of honour, or that, even guilty, I care so much

for her that any threat against her happiness can effectually coerce

me."

"Your language is becoming a trifle involved."

"No; I am involved. I realise it. And if I am not absolutely

honourable and unselfish in this matter I shall involve the woman I

had hoped to marry."

"I thought so," she said, reverting to her heap of pasteboard.

"If you think so," he continued, "could you not be a little generous?"

"How?"

"Divorce me--not by naming her--and give me a chance in life."

"No," she said coolly, "I don't care for a divorce. I am comfortable

enough. Why should I inconvenience myself because you wish to marry

your mistress?"

"In decency and in--charity--to me. It will cost you little. You

yourself admit that it is a matter of personal indifference to you

whether or not you are entirely and legally free of me."

"Did you ever do anything to deserve my generosity?" she inquired

coldly.

"I don't know. I have tried."

"I have never noticed it," she retorted with a slight sneer.

He said: "Since my first offence against you--and against

myself--which was marrying you--I have attempted in every way I knew

to repair the offence, and to render the mistake endurable to you. And

when I finally learned that there was only one way acceptable to you,

I followed that way and kept myself out of your sight.

"My behaviour, perhaps, entitles me to no claim upon your generosity,

yet I did my best, Winifred, as unselfishly as I knew how. Could you

not; in your turn, be a little unselfish now?... Because I have a

chance for happiness--if you would let me take it."

She glanced at him out of her close-set, sleepy eyes: "I would not lift a finger to oblige you," she said. "You have

inconvenienced me, annoyed me, disarranged my tranquil, orderly, and

blameless mode of living, causing me social annoyance and personal

irritation by coming here and engaging in business, and living openly

with a common and notorious woman who practises a fraudulent and

vulgar business.

"Why should I show you any consideration? And if you really have

fallen so low that you are ready to marry her, do you suppose it would

be very flattering for me to have it known that your second wife, my

successor, was such a woman?"