She had at any rate saved him the trouble of telling the story, but in doing so had left him without a word to say. She had owned to shooting the man. Well; it certainly may be necessary that a woman should shoot a man--especially in Oregon. As to the duel with her husband,--she had half denied and half confessed it. He presumed that she had been armed with a pistol when she refused Mr Hurtle admittance into the nuptial chamber. As to the question of Hurtle's death,--she had confessed that perhaps he was not dead. But then,--as she had asked,--why should not a divorce for the purpose in hand be considered as good as a death? He could not say that she had not washed herself clean;--and yet, from the story as told by herself, what man would wish to marry her? She had seen so much of drunkenness, had become so handy with pistols, and had done so much of a man's work, that any ordinary man might well hesitate before he assumed to be her master. 'I do not condemn you,' he replied.
'At any rate, Paul, do not lie,' she answered. 'If you tell me that you will not be my husband, you do condemn me. Is it not so?'
'I will not lie if I can help it. I did ask you to be my wife--'
'Well--rather. How often before I consented?'
'It matters little; at any rate, till you did consent. I have since satisfied myself that such a marriage would be miserable for both of us.'
'You have.'
'I have. Of course, you can speak of me as you please and think of me as you please. I can hardly defend myself.'
'Hardly, I think.'
'But, with whatever result, I know that I shall now be acting for the best in declaring that I will not become--your husband.'
'You will not?' She was still standing, and stretched out her right hand as though again to grasp something.
He also now rose from his chair. 'If I speak with abruptness it is only to avoid a show of indecision. I will not.'
'Oh, God! what have I done that it should be my lot to meet man after man false and cruel as this! You tell me to my face that I am to bear it! Who is the jade that has done it? Has she money?--or rank? Or is it that you are afraid to have by your side a woman who can speak for herself,--and even act for herself if some action be necessary? Perhaps you think that I am--old.' He was looking at her intently as she spoke, and it did seem to him that many years had been added to her face. It was full of lines round the mouth, and the light play of drollery was gone, and the colour was fixed and her eyes seemed to be deep in her head. 'Speak, man,--is it that you want a younger wife?'