"
"I told you it had slipped my mind," he retorted, striving, in a level
tone, to hide his chagrin and an increasing irritation at her
persistence.
"When did he come back?"
"I don't know." Suddenly he gave way to a complete frankness. "He may
not be back yet."
"Then you had dinner at the restaurant and went to the theatre alone
with her."
"If it's possible to be alone with anyone, you are correct. What, in
the name of heaven, are you getting at?"
"Only this--that, for some reason I can't gather, you lied to me. I
have had the most uncomfortable impression about her all along. Why?"
Her demand had a quality of unsteady emotion. "I have been so close to
you, Lee, we have had each other so completely, that I have feelings I
can't account for. I always know when--when you've been a little silly;
there is something in your eyes; but I have never felt like this
before. Lee," she leaned suddenly forward, her hands clasping the sides
of her chair, "you must be absolutely truthful with me, it's the only
way I can live. I love you so much; you're all I have; I don't care for
anyone else now. You have taken me away from my family; you are my
family. Ours isn't an ordinary marriage, like the Lucians', but worlds
deeper."
Yet, he told himself, in spite of her assurances the truth would ruin
them; besides, as he had recognized, it didn't belong exclusively to
him; it was, as well, Savina's truth.
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