Part 53 (1/2)
”But she is not going to marry Leslie.”
”I know it--I knew it yesterday,” he cried triumphantly. ”She loves me, Sara. Didn't she say as much to you?”
”Yes, Brandon, she loves you. But she will not be your wife.”
”What is all this mystery? Why can't she be my wife? What is there to prevent?”
She regarded him with dark, inscrutable eyes. Many seconds pa.s.sed before she spoke.
”Would you want her for your wife if you knew she had belonged to another man?”
He turned very cold. The palms of his hands were wet, as with ice-water. Something dark seemed to flit before his eyes.
”I will not believe that of her,” he said, shaking his head with an air of finality.
”That is not an answer to my question.”
”Yes, I would still want her,” he declared steadily.
”I merely meant to put you to the harshest test,” she said, and there was relief in her voice. ”She is a good girl, she is pure.
I asked my question because until yesterday I had reason to doubt her.”
”Good heavens, how could you doubt those honest, guiltless eyes of--”
She shook her head sadly. ”To answer you I would have to reveal the secret that makes it impossible for her to become your wife, and that I cannot, will not do.”
”Is it fair to me?”
”Perhaps not, but it is fair to her, and that is why I must remain silent.”
”Before G.o.d, I shall know the truth,--from her, if not from you,--and--”
”If you love her, if you will be kind to her, you will let her go her way in peace.”
He was struck by the somewhat sinister earnestness of her words.
”Tell me where I may find her,” he said, setting his jaw.
”It will not be difficult for you to find her,” she said, frowning, ”if you insist on pursuing her.”
”You drive her away from your house, Sara Wrandall, and yet expect me to believe that your motives are friendly. Why should I accept your word as final?”
”I did not drive her away, nor did I ask her to stay.”
He stared hard at her.
”Good Lord, what is the meaning of all this?” he cried in perplexity.
”What am I to understand?”
The car had come to a stop under the porte cochere. She laid her hand on his arm.
”If you will come in with me, Brandon, I will try to make some things clear to you.”