"Well, why are you silent? Why don't you speak? Speak! Say something to
comfort me!" she shrieked, her voice becoming hysterical in tone. The
very sound of it alarmed her.
"I ..." began Sarudine, and his under-lip quivered.
"Yes, you, and nobody else but you, worse luck!" she screamed, almost
stifled with tears of rage and of despair.
From him as from her the mask of comeliness and good manners had
fallen. The wild untrammelled beast became increasingly evident in
each.
Ideas like scurrying mice rushed through Sarudine's mind. His first
thought was to give Lida money, and persuade her to get rid of the
child. He must break with her at once, and for ever. That would end the
whole business. Yet though he considered this to be the best way, he
said nothing.
"I really never thought that ..." he stammered.
"You never thought!" exclaimed Lida wildly. "Why didn't you? What right
had you not to think?"
"But, Lida, I never told you that I ..." he faltered, feeling afraid of
what he was going to say, yet conscious that he would yet do so, all
the same.
Lida, however, had understood, without waiting for him to speak.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236