MissAbbott,andalltheindignationofhersexandhernationalitywentthrillingthroughthewords.
“Butwhy?”Hejumpedup,frowning.Hisvoicewassqueakyandpetulant,likethatofachildwhoissuddenlyforbiddenatoy.
“YouhaveruinedonewomanIforbidyoutoruinanother.ItisnotayearsinceLiliadied.Youpretendedtometheotherdaythatyoulovedher.Itisalie.Youwantedhermoney.Hasthiswomanmoneytoo?”
“Why,yes!”hesaidirritably.“Alittle.”
“AndIsupposeyouwillsaythatyouloveher.”
“Ishallnotsayit.Itwillbeuntrue.Nowmypoorwife—”Hestopped,seeingthatthecomparisonwouldinvolvehimindifficulties.AndindeedhehadoftenfoundLiliaasagreeableasanyoneelse.
MissAbbottwasfuriousatthisfinalinsulttoherdeadacquaintance.Shewasgladthatafterallshecouldbesoangrywiththeboy.Sheglowedandthrobbedhertonguemovednimbly.Atthefinish,iftherealbusinessofthedayhadbeencompleted,shecouldhavesweptmajesticallyfromthehouse.Butthebabystillremained,asleeponadirtyrug.
Ginowasthoughtful,andstoodscratchinghishead.HerespectedMissAbbott.Hewishedthatshewouldrespecthim.“Soyoudonotadviseme?”hesaiddolefully.“Butwhyshoulditbeafailure?”
MissAbbotttriedtorememberthathewasreallyachildstill—achildwiththestrengthandthepassionsofadisreputableman.“Howcanitsucceed,”shesaidsolemnly,“wherethereisnolove?”
“Butshedoesloveme!Iforgottotellyouthat.”
“Indeed.”
“Passionately.”Helaidhishanduponhisownheart.
“ThenGodhelpher!”
Hestampedimpatiently.“WhateverIsaydispleasesyou,Signorina.Godhelpyou,foryouaremostunfair.YousaythatIill-treatedmydearwife.Itisnotso.Ihaveneverill-treatedanyone.Youcomplainthatthereisnoloveinthismarriage.Iprovethatthereis,andyoubecomestillmoreangry.Whatdoyouwant?Doyousupposeshewillnotbecontented?Gladenoughsheistogetme,andshewilldoherdutywell.”
“Herduty!”criedMissAbbott,withallthebitternessofwhichshewascapable.
“Why,ofcourse.SheknowswhyIammarryingher.”
“TosucceedwhereLiliafailed!Tobeyourhousekeeper,yourslave,you—”Thewordsshewouldliketohavesaidweretooviolentforher.
“Tolookafterthebaby,certainly,”saidhe.
“Thebaby—?”Shehadforgottenit.
“ItisanEnglishmarriage,”hesaidproudly.“Idonotcareaboutthemoney.Iamhavingherformyson.Didyounotunderstandthat?”