There was some untold reason why they two did not, or could
not, marry. I do not go into that.
"Consider, my dear girl," he resumed; "you are young, and I am so
old that it is as though I too were young now and had no
experience--so we may talk. Our life is a contest among men for
money and for love; that is all success can bring us. In older
days men fought for that. To-day we have modified life a little,
and have other ways; but I fancy the game in which that certain
lady figured was only one form of contest--it was a fight, the
spoils to go to the victor."
"Horrible! But you might have been the victor? In that case,
would you have loved her, would you have used her well, all your
life, and hers?"
He drew back now with dignity. "Madam, my position in later years
defends me from necessity of answering you. You are young,
impulsive, but you should not forget the proprieties even now--"
His face was now hotly flushed.
"I ask your pardon! But _would_ you?"
He smiled in spite of himself, something of the old fire of
gallantry still burning in his withered veins.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387