"It's abominable to marry some one you don't love, and
a crime if you love some one else."
"But you must have cared for her once," said Victoria.
"Oh, cared! I cared in a way, as a man cares for a pretty woman who's
had very hard luck. You see--her father made a fight for a title that's
in our family, and claimed the right to it. He lost his case, and his
money was spent. Then he killed himself, and his daughter was left
alone, without a penny and hardly any friends----"
"Poor, poor girl! I don't wonder you were sorry for her--so sorry that
you thought your pity was love. You couldn't throw her over now, you
know in your heart you couldn't. It would be cruel."
"I thought I couldn't, till I met you," Stephen answered frankly. "Since
then, I've thought--no, I haven't exactly thought. I've only felt. That
night at Toudja, I knew it would be worse than death to have to keep my
word to her. I wouldn't have been sorry if they'd killed me then, after
you said--that is, after I had the memory of a moment or two of
happiness to take to the next world."
"Ah, that's because I let you see I loved you," Victoria explained
softly, and a little shyly. "I told you I wouldn't misunderstand, and I
don't. Just for a minute I was hurt--my heart felt sick, because I
couldn't bear to think--to think less highly of you. But it was only for
a minute. Then I began to understand--so well! And I think you are even
better than I thought before--more generous, and chivalrous.
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