The Monster. Saltus Edgar
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Название: The Monster
Автор: Saltus Edgar
Издательство: Public Domain
Жанр: Зарубежная классика
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“I am an old married woman,” added the lady who was not twenty-two. “But if I were not, if for instance I were like you, free, independent and not a fright, and I had to choose between love and matrimony, it would not take me a moment to decide. Not one.”
Leilah put down her cup. “Of course it would not. If you had it to do again you would marry Silverstairs and you would marry for love. That is over for me, over forever.”
Narrowly, out of a corner of an eye, Violet considered her. “He was such a brute, was he?”
“Who? Gulian, do you mean?”
“I suppose so. There has been no other, has there?”
“Violet!”
It was at this juncture, for the fiftieth time, that Lady Silverstairs exclaimed:
“It is downright mean of you to keep me in the dark. What was it that happened? Make a soiled breast of it. Do!”
For the fiftieth time Leilah protested:
“Don’t ask me. Don’t. He knows and that is enough. As for me I am trying to forget.”
“And you think Barouffski will help you. But has it ever occurred to you that if you were not very rich he might lack the incentive?”
To this Leilah assented. “He said he is poor.”
“At least he does not exaggerate. I told Silverstairs that he was after you for your money and he said that was what he married me for. So he did and I married him for his title. It was a fair bargain. Now if we had it to do over I would say – I would say – well, I would say that it is better to have loved your husband than never to have loved at all. But six months hence, if you had it to do over, do you think you could say as much – or as little?”
“At least I could say that I did not marry for a title.”
“Well, hardly, particularly a Polish one, though I daresay even that might be useful in the servants’ hall. But what could you say you married for? It isn’t love?”
“No.”
“Nor position?”
“No.”
“Then what on earth – ”
“Violet, how hard you make it for me. Can’t you see that if I do, it will be for protection?”
“For protection! Merciful fathers! You talk like a chorus girl! Protection against what? Against whom? Verplank?”
“No.” Leilah choking down something in her throat, replied: “Against myself.”
“I don’t understand you,” said Violet slowly. But she did or thought she did, and that night told Silverstairs that Leilah was still in love with her ex.
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