When he found that out, which he did after a year of her
German vexations, he offered himself and his convictions to her. He
humbled himself before her--but by that time she would not. By that time
she had recovered her widow's portion (which had been dependent upon her
remaining sole), and was entitled to some thousands a year and a good
dower-house in Berks. She declined to marry him, and acted as such. She
had been his wife in fact for a quarter of a year; she was his friend--as
he was hers--for the rest of their time abroad. He had respected her wish,
but had kept himself at her free disposal, until now of late, when this
disturbing Sanchia Percival arose out of the nothingless and was shown to
her as a goddess newly from the shades. And so now here sat Mrs. Germain,
with her eccentric friend pale and gaunt before her, unlike himself as she
had always known him, about to take her at her word, and to behave as a
friend might. What should she say?
He would come back if she chose; he had said so--and he was incapable of
lies. If he came back, and if she chose, he would marry her, and be the
imperturbable, delightful, incalculable, impossible companion she had
always known him.
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