"
He looked at her glowingly: "How marvellously different two women
can be! You--my wife."
Ethel shook her head and smiled her calm, dead smile "We're not
really very different, Christian. Only some natures like change.
Yours does. And the new have all the virtues. Why, I might not last
as long as your wife did."
"Don't say that. We lave a common bond--UNDERSTANDING."
"Think so?"
"I understand you."
"I wonder."
"You do me."
"Yes--that is just the difficulty."
"I tell you I am at the cross-roads. The fingerboard points the way
to me distinctly."
"Does it?"
"It does." He leaned across to her: "Would you risk it?"
"What?" she asked.
"I'll hide nothing. I'll put it all before you. The snubs of your
friends. The whisper of a scandal that would grow into a roar.
Afraid to open a newspaper, fearing what might be printed in it.
Life, at first, in some little Continental village--dreading the
passers through--keeping out of sight lest they would recognise one.
No. It wouldn't be fair to you."
Ethel thought a moment, then answered slowly:
"No, Chris, I don't think it would."
"You see I AM a cad--just a selfish cad!"
"Aren't you?" and she smiled up at him.
"I'll never speak of this again.
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