Book 3 Chapter 6

"No." Her eyes met his frankly and he knew she was speaking the truth. "I learned the fact for certain by accident three days ago, when Bruce was delirious. Of course I had wondered--sometimes"--said Iris honestly--"but I never liked to ask. And after all it made no difference."

"No." He sighed. "It made no difference. But I am glad you know--now."

Again a silence fell between them; and then a sudden impulse drove Anstice into speech.

"Mrs. Cheniston," he said, very quietly, "may I tell you something else--something I have long wanted you to know?"

Startled, she assented; and he continued slowly.

"You remember that night--the night before your wedding day"--he saw her wince, and went on more quickly--"the night, I mean, when Cherry Carstairs set herself on fire and you came for me to my house----"

"Yes." Her eyes were sad. "I remember. I don't think I shall ever be able to forget that night."

"Ah, don't say that!" His voice was eager. "Mrs. Cheniston, don't, please, believe I gave in without a struggle. I didn't. God knows I fought the horrible thing--for your sake, because you had been good enough, kind enough--to ask me to give up trying that way out. I did try. Oh, I know you can hardly believe me--you who saw me in the very hour of my failure--but it's true. Although I gave in at the last, beaten by the twin enemies of bodily pain and mental suffering----"