iolencewhichtroubledhisdayslikeafever?Hedreamedofthewomanatnightheseemedonlytolivewhenhewaswithher.Thementionofhernamemadehisheartbeat,andmeetingherhetrembledandturnedcold.Byhersidehefoundnothingtosayhewaslikewaxinherhands,withoutwillorstrength.Thetouchofherfingerssentthebloodrushingthroughhisveinsinsanelyandunderstandinghiscondition,shetookpleasureintouchinghim,towatchthelittleshiverofdesirethatconvulsedhisframe.Inaveryself-restrainedmanloveworksruinouslyanditburntJamesnow,thisinvisible,unconsciousfire,tillhewasconsumedutterly—tillhewasmadwithpassion.Andthensuddenly,atsomechanceword,heknewwhathadhappenedheknewthathewasinlovewiththewifeofhisgoodfriend,Pritchard-WallaceandhethoughtofMaryClibborn.
Therewasnohesitationnow,nordoubtJameshadonlybeenindangerbecausehewasunawareofit.HeneverthoughtoftreacherytohisfriendortoMaryhewashorror-stricken,hatinghimself.Helookedoverthebrinkoftheprecipiceatthedeadlysin,andrecoiled,shuddering.Hebitterlyreproachedhimself,takingforgrantedthatsomeerrorofhishadledtothecatastrophe.Buthisdutywasobviousheknewhemustkillthesinfullove,whateverpainitcosthimhemustcrushitashewouldsomenoxiousvermin.
JamesmadeuphismindnevertoseeMrs.WallaceagainandhethoughtthatGodwasonhissidehelpinghim,since,withherhusband,shewasleavinginamonthforEngland.Heappliedforleave.Hecouldgetawayforafewweeks,andonhisreturnMrs.Wallacewouldbegone.Hemanagedtoavoidherforseveraldays,butatlastshecameacrosshimbychance,andhecouldnotescape.
"Ididn'tknowyouweresofondofhide-and-seek,"shesaid,"Ithinkit'sratherastupidgame."
"Idon'tunderstand,"repliedJames,growingpale.
"WhyhaveyoubeendodgingroundcornerstoavoidmeasifIwereadun,andinventingthefeeblestexcusesnottocometome?"
Jamesstoodforamoment,notknowingwhattoanswerhiskneestrembled,andhesweatedwiththeagonyofhislove.Itwasanangry,furiouspassion,thatmadehimfeelhecouldalmostseizethewomanbythethroatandstrangleher.
"DidyouknowthatIamengagedtobemarried?