"Yes, Eustace is going to marry her; and I shouldn't wonder if the
marriage turns out well. It leads to the disagreeable thing I have
to talk about. You know that. I engaged myself to Arnold Jacks. I
did so freely, thinking I did right. When the time of the marriage
drew near, I had learnt that I had done _wrong_. Not that I wished
to be the wife of anyone else. I loved nobody; I did not love the
man I was pretending to. As soon as I knew that--what was I to do?
To marry him was a crime--no less a crime for its being committed
every day. I took my courage in both hands. I told him I did not love
him, I would not marry him. And--I ran away."
The memory made her bosom heave, her cheeks flush.
"Magnificent!" commented the listener, with a happy smile.
"An! but I didn't do it very well. I treated him badly--yes,
inconsiderately, selfishly. The thing had to be done--but there
were ways of doing it. Unfortunately I had got to resent my
captivity, and I spoke to him as if _he_ were to blame. From the
point of view of delicacy, perhaps he was; he should have released
me at once, and that he wouldn't. But I was too little regardful of
what it meant to him--above all to his pride. I have so often
reproached myself. I do it now for the last time. There!" She picked
up a pebble to fling away. "It is gone I We speak of the thing no
more."
A change was coming upon the glen.
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