Part 100 (2/2)
She lifted the letter.
”In this letter you say that Mr. Arabian is unfit to be the companion of any decent woman, that he is a blackguard in the full acceptance of the word, that he is beyond the pale, and finally, that he ought to be in prison. Very well! I don't say for a moment that I doubt your word, but I do ask you to justify it. Of course I know that you easily can. Otherwise I am sure that you would never have written such awful accusations against anyone. It would be too wicked, and I know you are not wicked. Please tell me your exact reason for writing this letter, Adela.”
”I can't.”
”You really mean that?”
”I won't. It's impossible.”
Miss Van Tuyn's face became very hard.
”Well, then, Adela--”
She paused. Suddenly there had come into her mind the thought of a possible way of forcing the confidence which Lady Sellingworth refused to give her. Should she take it? She hesitated. Arabian's will was upon her even here in this quiet drawing-room. His large eyes seemed fixed upon her. She still felt the long and soft touch of his lips clinging to hers like the lips of a thirsty man. Would he wish her to take this way?
For a moment she felt afraid of him. But then her strong independence of an American girl rose up to combat this imaginative, almost occult, domination. Arabian himself, his fate perhaps, was concerned in this matter. She could not, she would not allow even Arabian, whose will imposed itself on hers, who had gathered her strangely, mysteriously, into a grip which she felt almost like a thing palpable upon her, to prevent her from finding out the truth which Lady Sellingworth seemed resolved to keep from her. She still believed, indeed she felt practically certain, that Lady Sellingworth and Arabian in the past had been lovers. Her jealousy was furiously awake. She felt reckless of consequences and ready to take any course which would bring to her what she needed, full knowledge of what had led Adela Sellingworth to send her that letter.
Lady Sellingworth was looking at her now steadily, with, she thought, a sort of almost fierce pleading. But she cared very little for Adela's feelings just then.
”You really refuse to tell me?”
”I must, Beryl.”
”I don't think that's fair. It isn't fair to me or to him.”
”I can't help that. Please don't ask me anything more. And please destroy that letter. Or let me destroy it.”
She held out her hand, but Miss Van Tuyn sat quite still.
”I must tell you something,” she said. ”If you will not explain to me I think I ought to go for an explanation to someone else.”
”Someone else!” said Lady Sellingworth in a startled voice. ”But--do you know--to whom would you go?”
”I think I ought to go to him, to the man you accuse of nameless things.”
”But you can't do that!”
”Why not? It would only be fair.”
”But what reason could you give?”
”Naturally I should have to say that you had warned me against him.”
”No--no, you mustn't do that.”
”Really? I am to be bound hand and foot while you--”
”You saw what I wrote in that letter.”
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