Soon, that man and you grew to be
one. You wouldn't have me separate you from him, would you?"
"If you mean that you'll separate me from your ideal unless I marry
Margot Lorenzi, then divide me from that cold perfection forever. I'm
not cold, and I'm far from perfect. But I can't feel it a decent thing
for a man to marry one woman, promising to love and cherish her, if his
whole being belongs to another. Even you can't----"
"I used to believe it wrong to marry a person one didn't love,"
Victoria broke in, quickly. "But it's so different when one talks of an
imaginary case. This poor girl loves you?"
"I suppose she thinks she does."
"She's poor?"
"Yes."
"And she depends upon you."
"Of course she counts on me. I always expected to keep my word."
"And now you'd break it--for me! Oh, no, I couldn't let you do it. Were
you--does she expect to be married soon?"
Stephen's face grew red, as if it had been struck. "Yes," he answered,
in a low voice.
"Would you mind--telling me how soon?"
"As soon as she gets back from Canada."
Victoria's bosom rose and fell quickly.
"Oh!--and when----"
"At once. Almost at once."
"She's coming back immediately?"
"Yes. I--I'm afraid she's in England now."
"How dreadful! Poor girl, hoping to see you--to have you meet her,
maybe, and--you're here. You're planning to break her heart. It breaks
mine to think of it. I _couldn't_ have you fail.
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