And
while I was trying to put him right on that point he began to
console me. You see, Nutty looks on you as the enemy of the
family, and it didn't strike him that it was possible that I
didn't look on you in that light too. So, after being delighted
for a while, he very sweetly thought that he ought to cheer me up
and point out some of the compensations of marriage with you.
And--Well, that was what you heard. There you have the full
explanation. You can't possibly believe it.'
She broke off and began to drum her fingers on the table. And as
she did so there came to Bill a sudden relief from all the doubts
and black thoughts that had tortured him. Elizabeth was straight.
Whatever appearances might seem to suggest, nothing could convince
him that she was playing an underhand game. It was as if something
evil had gone out of him. He felt lighter, cleaner. He could
breathe.
'I do believe it,' he said. 'I believe every word you say.'
She shook her head.
'You can't in the face of the evidence.'
'I believe it.'
'No. You may persuade yourself for the moment that you do, but
after a while you will have to go by the evidence. You won't be
able to help yourself. You haven't realized what a crushing thing
evidence is. You have to go by it against your will.
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