He judges Dick from the standpoint of his own
sober middle age. Why, he's an old man - a wicked old man!"
Thus her rage, hurling at O'Moy what in the insolence of her youth
seemed the last insult.
"You are very unjust, Una. You are even a little stupid," he
said, deeming the punishment necessary and salutary.
"Stupid! I stupid! I have never been called stupid before."
"But you have undoubtedly deserved to be," he assured her with
perfect calm.
It took her aback by its directness, and for a moment left her
without an answer. Then: "I think you had better leave me," she
told him frostily. "You forget yourself."
"Perhaps I do," he admitted. "That is because I am more concerned
to think of Dick and Terence and yourself. Sit down, Una."
They had reached a little circle by a piece of ornamental water,
facing which a granite-hewn seat had been placed. She sank to it
obediently, if sulkily.
"It may perhaps help you to understand what Terence has done when
I tell you that in his place, loving Dick as I do, I must have
pledged myself precisely as he did or else despised myself for
ever. And being pledged, I must keep my word or go in the same
self-contempt." He elaborated his argument by explaining the full
circumstances under which the pledge had been exacted.
Pages:
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145