by improbable possibilities. Given the opportunity,[Pg 161] might I not have caused the death of my great-great-grandfather? Consequently, I remained silent, guiltily silent, in appearance; and Marion no longer condemned second marriages—at least, she hadn't for some months—as a disgrace to civilization, her manner indicating sorrowful resignation to the inevitable. [Pg 160] [Pg 161] It is strange, but true, that I didn't know what was coming; and yet I thought I knew, too well. My wife had apparently told her aunt of my supposititious inclinations; they had wept in each other's arms; they had apperceived together; awful thought, they had apperceived ME. Never before had I been so moved. I rose to my feet, my teeth tightly clenched, vaguely pleased to notice that I stood unsteadily; it was the proper, the most effective way. "Marion," I said, in an undertone, gripping her arm, yet careful to press only hard enough for a grip—she was such a tender little thing, though so cruel. I had intended to say more, but the one word seemed so full of meaning that I stopped to let it penetrate; also to give one swift[Pg 162] glance at the reflection of my face in the mirror of the wall-cabinet. That glance showed me that I appeared to be struggling with the unutterable; I went on doing so. [Pg 162] Marion's face grew pale and rigid. "Good gracious, Henry!" she cried, trying to rise; "what's the matter?" "Sit still," I commanded fiercely, with a bitter smile; a smile that made my teeth gleam back at me wolfishly from the wall-cabinet. "Matter enough! You've wrecked my happiness by telling Aunt Sophy that I wanted another wife." "I never did!" she cried indignantly. "Do you think I could bear to tell anyone if—if it was true?" My grasp relaxed. I knew there must be something wrong in my reasoning. "Do you mean," I asked cautiously, "that you couldn't have told her because it wasn't true—or—or because it was." "I couldn't tell her anyway," she cried, with a peal of laughter, covering her face with her hands. "Oh, how funny!" I sat down, feeling strangely flabby and weak. "Then why," I asked helplessly,[Pg 163] mopping my brow, "did you repeat what I said about second marriages?" [Pg 163]
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