And then he tried to
show me that love was everything, and if people loved each other nothing
else mattered--religious ceremonies were nothing, the morality of
society was nothing, the world and its back-biting was nothing.
The great moment had come for me at last, and though I felt torn between
love and pity I had to face it.
"Martin, I . . . I can't do it," I said.
He looked steadfastly into my face for a moment, but I dare not look
back, for I knew he was suffering.
"You think it would be wrong?"
"Yes."
"A sin?"
I tried to say "Yes" again, but my reply died in my throat.
There was another moment of silence and then, in a faltering voice that
nearly broke me down, he said:
"In that case there is nothing more to say. . . . There isn't, is
there?"
I made an effort to speak, but my voice would not come.
"I thought . . . as there was no other way of escape from this terrible
marriage . . . but if you think . . ."
He stopped, and then coming closer he said:
"I suppose you know what this means for you, Mary--that after all the
degradation you have gone through you are shutting the door to a
worthier, purer life, and that .
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