'Could you?' he said.
Stephen was powerless to forsake the depressing, luring subject.
'Yes; and I simply wonder at it.'
'Whom did you expect me to marry?'
'Her I saw you with.'
'Thank you for that wonder.'
'Did she jilt you?'
'Smith, now one word to you,' Knight returned steadily. 'Don't
you ever question me on that subject. I have a reason for making
this request, mind. And if you do question me, you will not get
an answer.'
'Oh, I don't for a moment wish to ask what is unpleasant to you--
not I. I had a momentary feeling that I should like to explain
something on my side, and hear a similar explanation on yours.
But let it go, let it go, by all means.'
'What would you explain?'
'I lost the woman I was going to marry: you have not married as
you intended. We might have compared notes.'
'I have never asked you a word about your case.'
'I know that.'
'And the inference is obvious.'
'Quite so.'
'The truth is, Stephen, I have doggedly resolved never to allude
to the matter--for which I have a very good reason.'
'Doubtless. As good a reason as you had for not marrying her.'
'You talk insidiously. I had a good one--a miserably good one!'
Smith's anxiety urged him to venture one more question.
'Did she not love you enough?' He drew his breath in a slow and
attenuated stream, as he waited in timorous hope for the answer.
'Stephen, you rather strain ordinary courtesy in pressing
questions of that kind after what I have said.
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