Then I turned to Marion, who happened to
be present. 'Why, of course,' I commented, 'that makes it all the more
serious about William.'
'What are you talking about?' she asked in a puzzled tone.
'If Henry was deceived so easily----'
'Deceived! Oh, Netta!'
'Well, I mean, dear, I'd decided to marry Henry before the episode of
the misstatement in my article he just mentioned. I--I--put the
misstatement in on purpose to arouse a controversy between us.'
'Netta, how terrible!'
'Why terrible, Marion? I knew Henry would make an excellent husband.
Am I not a suitable wife for him?'
[Illustration: 'Am I not a suitable wife for Henry?']
'You are just perfect, dear--but you might have been otherwise.'
'That's exactly what I'm driving at, Marion. Gladys is an "otherwise."
If I deceived Henry, how much easier is it for her to deceive William?
No, she shan't marry him. He'd be wretched.'
Marion smiled. 'You surely don't think there's anything like that
between them?'
'He's drifting that way if some one doesn't stop him.'
Again Marion smiled. 'I tell you it's impossible. He couldn't have
got over his passion for me so quickly.'
'His passion for you,' I echoed. 'My dear, what do you mean?'
Marion then laid down her sewing and began to speak. I listened
amazed, unable at first to credit what she was saying, though gradually
I began to understand many things which had hitherto been obscure.
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