"You've heard some one else use those words? I couldn't blame him.
Well, I wish him happiness. And I wish you happiness, too. I had
no right to presume."
"Happiness!--what is that?" she said slowly. "I've been trying to
find it all my life. My God! How crooked were all the mismated
planets at my birth! I haven't been happy myself. I do not think
that I've added one iota to the happiness of any one else, I've
just failed, that's all. And I've tried so hard--to do something,
something for the world! Oh, can a woman--can she, ever?" For
once shaken, she dropped her face an instant in her hands, he
standing by, mute, and suffering much as herself at seeing her thus
suffer.
"But now," she continued after a time, "--I want to ask you whether
I've been ungenerous or vindictive with you--"
"Vindictive? You? Never! But why should you be?"
"Captain," she said easily, "my lieutenant, my friend, let me
say--I will not be specific--I will not mention names or dates; but
do you think, if you were a woman, you could ever marry a man who
once, behind your back, with not even eagerness to incite him, but
coolly, deliberately--had played a game of cards for--you?"
He stiffened as though shot.
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