Part 32 (1/2)
After a long silence, she said: ”What does this make out of me?”
”You mean, what would be thought of you, if it were known?” inquired he. ”Well, it probably wouldn't improve your social position.”
”I am disgraced,” said she, curiously rather than emotionally.
”Would be, if it were known,” corrected he, ”and if you are nothing but a woman without money looking for a husband. If you happened to be a singer or an actress, it would add to your reputation--make you more talked about.”
”But I am not an actress or a singer.”
”On the other hand, I should say you didn't amount to much socially.
Except in Hanging Rock, of course--if there is still a Hanging Rock.
Don't worry about your reputation. Fussing and fretting about your social position doesn't help toward a career.”
”Naturally, you take it coolly. But you can hardly expect me to,”
cried she.
”You are taking it coolly,” said he. ”Then why try to work yourself up into a fit of hysterics? The thing is of no importance--except that you're free now--will never be bothered by Siddall again. You ought to thank me, and forget it. Don't be one of the little people who are forever agitating about trifles.”
Trifles! To speak of such things as trifles! And yet-- Well, what did they actually amount to in her life? ”Yes, I AM free,” she said thoughtfully. ”I've got what I wanted--got it in the easiest way possible.”
”That's better,” said he approvingly.
”And I've burnt my bridges behind me,” pursued she. ”There's nothing for me now but to go ahead.”
”Which road?” inquired he carelessly.
”The career,” cried she. ”There's no other for me. Of course I COULD marry Stanley, when he's free, as he would be before very long, if I suggested it. Yes, I could marry him.”
”Could you?” observed he.
”Doesn't he love me?”
”Undoubtedly.”
”Then why do you say he would not marry me?” demanded she.
”Did I say that?”
”You insinuated it. You suggested that there was a doubt.”
”Then, there is no doubt?”
”Yes, there is,” she cried angrily. ”You won't let me enjoy the least bit of a delusion. He might marry me if I were famous. But as I am now-- He's an inbred sn.o.b. He can't help it. He simply couldn't marry a woman in my position. But you're overlooking one thing--that _I_ would not marry HIM.”
”That's unimportant, if true,” said Keith.
”You don't believe it?”