You have your own battle to fight with
society, but you have the winning cards for, before you go, you and
your husband will be received as guests--well, by the one person whose
decision is absolute."
She looked at him in amazement.
"My word of honor," he said quietly, "was enough for Lord Marendon.
You will find things go smoothly with you."
"You are wonderful," she gasped, "but--you--you spoke of going away."
"I am going to travel," he said quietly, "rather a long journey. I
have lived three lives, I am going to try a fourth!"
"Alone?" she asked.
"Quite alone," he answered.
"Tell me where you are going?" she begged.
"I cannot do that," he answered. "It is my secret."
She rose to her feet. She was very pale. She stood in front of him,
and she laid her hands upon his shoulders.
"Wingrave," she said, "I will obey. I will live the life you have
shown me, and I will live it successfully. But I will know this. Who
is it that has succeeded where I have failed?"
"I do not understand you," he answered.
"You do!" she declared, "and I will know. For years you have been a
man with a shell upon your heart. Every good impulse, every kind
thought seemed withered up. You were absolutely cold, absolutely
passionless! I have worn myself out trying to call you back to your
own, to set the blood flowing once more in your veins, to break for
one moment the barriers which you had set up against Nature herself.
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