I only thought
of you--that you wanted me, and that I wanted you. What the world
thought was nothing, if you were as when we parted last night. . . .
I could not face Jean Jacques' forgiveness. To stay there, feeling that
I must be always grateful, that I must be humble, that I must pretend,
that I must kiss Jean Jacques, and lie in his arms, and go to mass and to
confession, and--"
"There is the child, there is Zoe--"
"Oh, it is you that preaches now--you that tempted me, that said I was
wasted at the Manor; that the parish did not understand me; that Jean
Jacques did not know a jewel of price when he saw it--little did you
think of Zoe then!"
He made a protesting gesture. "Maybe so, Carmen, but I think now before
it is too late."
"The child loves her father as she never loved me," she declared. "She
is twelve years old. She will soon be old enough to keep house for him,
and then to marry--ah, before there is time to think she will marry!"
"It would be better then for you to wait till she marries before--
before--"
"Before I go away with you!" She gave a shrill, agonized laugh. "So
that is the end of it all! What did you think of my child when you
forced your way into my life, when you made me think of you--ah, quel
bete--what a coward and beast you are!"
"No, I am not all coward, though I may be a beast," he answered.
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