"Mrs.ClibbornputherhandonJamie'sarmandgazedintohiseyes."Iwantyoutotellmesomething.Doyouloveanyoneelse?"
Jameslookedatherquicklyandhesitated.
"Ifyouhadaskedmetheotherday,Ishouldhavedenieditwithallmymight.Butnow—Idon'tknow."
Mrs.Clibbornsmiled.
"Ithoughtso,"shesaid."Youcantellme,youknow."
ShewasconvincedthatJamesadoredher,butwantedtohearhimsayso.Itisnotoriousthattoahandsomewomaneventheadmirationofacrossing-sweeperiswelcome.
"Oh,it'snogoodanylongertryingtoconcealitfrommyself!"criedJames,forgettingalmosttowhomhewasspeaking."I'msorryaboutMarynooneknowshowmuch.ButIdolovesomeoneelse,andIloveherwithallmyheartandsoulandIshallnevergetoveritnow."
"Iknewit,"sighedMrs.Clibborn,complacently,"Iknewit!"Thenlookingcoylyathim:"Tellmeabouther."
"Ican't.IknowmyloveisidioticandimpossiblebutIcan'thelpit.It'sfate."
"You'reinlovewithamarriedwoman,James."
"Howd'youknow?"
"Mypoorboy,d'youthinkyoucandeceiveme!Andisitnotthewifeofanofficer?"
"Yes."
"Averyoldfriendofyours?"
"It'sjustthatwhichmakesitsoterrible."
"Iknewit."
"Oh,Mrs.Clibborn,Iswearyou'retheonlywomanherewho'sgottwoouncesofgumption.Ifthey'donlylistenedtoyoufiveyearsago,wemightallhavebeensavedthisawfulwretchedness."
HecouldnotunderstandthatMrs.Clibborn,whoseaffectationsweremanifest,whosefollywasnotorious,shouldalonehaveguessedhissecret.Hewastiredofperpetuallyconcealinghisthoughts.
"IwishIcouldtellyoueverything!"hecried.
"Don't!You'donlyregretit.AndIknowallyoucantellme."
"Youcan'tthinkhowhardI'vestruggled.WhenIfoundIlovedher,Inearlykilledmyselftryingtokillmylove.Butit'snogood.It'sstrongerthanIam."
"Andnothingcanevercomeofit,youknow,"saidMrs.Clibborn.
"Oh,Iknow!Ofcourse,Iknow!I'mnotacad.Theonlythingistoliveonandsuffer."
"I'msosorryforyou."
Mrs.ClibbornthoughtthatevenpoorAlgyTurner,whoha