Marian！hewasnotevenlookingatme！Ipulleddownmyveil，thinkingitbestnottolethimseethatthetearswereinmyeyes。Ifanciedhehadnotpaidanyattentiontome，buthehad。Hesaid，``Comeaway，’’andlaughedtohimselfashehelpedmeontomyhorse。Hemountedhisownhorseandlaughedagainaswerodeaway。``IfIdobuildyouatomb，’’hesaid，``itwillbedonewithyourownmoney。IwonderwhetherCeciliaMetellahadafortuneandpaidforhers。’’Imadenoreply——howcouldI，whenIwascryingbehindmyveil？``Ah，youlight-complexionedwomenareallsulky，’’hesaid。``Whatdoyouwant？complimentsandsoftspeeches？Well！
I’minagoodhumourthismorning。Considerthecomplimentspaidandthespeechessaid。’’Menlittleknowwhentheysayhardthingstoushowwellwerememberthem，andhowmuchharmtheydous。ItwouldhavebeenbetterformeifIhadgoneoncrying，buthiscontemptdriedupmytearsandhardenedmyheart-Fromthattime，Marian，InevercheckedmyselfagaininthinkingofWalterHartright。Iletthememoryofthosehappydays，whenweweresofondofeachotherinsecret，comebackandcomfortme。
WhatelsehadItolooktoforconsolation？Ifwehadbeentogetheryouwouldhavehelpedmetobetterthings。Iknowitwaswrong，darling，buttellmeifIwaswrongwithoutanyexcuse。’
Iwasobligedtoturnmyfacefromher。`Don’taskme！’Isaid。`HaveIsufferedasyouhavesuffered？WhatrighthaveItodecide？’
`Iusedtothinkofhim，’shepursued，droppinghervoiceandmovingclosertome，`IusedtothinkofhimwhenPercivalleftmealoneatnighttogoamongtheOperapeople。IusedtofancywhatImighthavebeenifithadpleasedGodtoblessmewithpoverty，andifIhadbeenhiswife。