You couldn't kill it, no matter how much you
loved me. I'd yield for the time. Then, I'd go back--
or, if I didn't, I'd be wretched and make you wish you'd
never seen me.''
``I understand,'' said he. ``I don't believe it, but I
understand.''
``You think I'm deceiving myself, because you saw me
wasting my life, playing the idler and the fool,
pretending I was working toward a career when I was
really making myself fit for nothing but to be Stanley
Baird's mistress.''
``And you're still deceiving yourself. You won't see
the truth.''
``No matter,'' said she. ``I must go on and make a
career--some kind of a career.''
``At what?''
``At grand opera.''
``How'll you get the money?''
``Of Stanley, if necessary. That's why I asked his
address. I shan't ask for much. He'll not refuse.''
``A few minutes ago you were talking of self-
respect.''
``As something I hoped to get. It comes with
independence. I'll pay any price to get it.''
``Any price?'' said he, and never before had she seen
his self-control in danger.
Pages:
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521