Presently I asked: "But why not have a legal separation, a divorce,
from your husband now?"
"I cannot," she answered, sadly. "At one time I had written proof of
his turpitude, but I could not make up my mind to use it then, and I
destroyed it eventually; so that now my word would be the only evidence
against him, and that would not do, I suppose, although you all know,
better than I do, I fancy, what his life has been."
Other people had by this time come into the conservatory, and we were
therefore obliged to change the subject.
In the days that followed every one seemed to become conscious of some
impending trouble. We were all depressed, and one by one our party left
us, until at last only Ideala remained, for we had not the heart to ask
other guests, even if it had been expedient, and, under the
circumstances, Claudia did not consider it so.
Ideala spent much of her time in writing to Lorrimer. Some of these
letters were never sent. I fancy she wrote exactly as she felt, and
often feared when she had done so that she had been too frank. How
these two ever came to such an understanding I am at a loss to imagine,
and I have searched in vain for any clue to the mystery.
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