"You know the
ring doesn't mean anything. It's your promise that counts. And honestly
don't you think your promise does give me the right to ask you about your
new friends when you speak of them, of one of them, in--in such a way?"
"I don't intend to deceive you," she said, turning the ring around slowly
on her finger. "I didn't know how to tell you. I suppose the only way to
speak is just to speak."
"Do you think you are in love with this man, Marian?"
She nodded, then after a long pause, said, "Yes, Teddy, I love him."
"But I thought----"
"And so did I, Teddy. But he came, and I--well I couldn't help it."
As he did not speak, she looked at him. His face was haggard and white and
in his eyes which met hers frankly there was suffering.
"It wasn't my fault, Teddy," Marian laid her hand on his arm, "at least,
not altogether. I might have kept away and I didn't."
"Oh, I don't blame you. I blame him."
"But it wasn't his fault. I--I--encouraged him."
"Did he know that we were engaged?"
"Yes," reluctantly.
"The scoundrel! I suspected that he was rotten somewhere."
"You are unjust to him. I have not told you properly."
"Did he tell you that he cared for you?"
"Yes--but he didn't try to get me to break my engagement.
Pages:
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138