'But Felix says you took her to Lowestoft,--quite the other day.'
Montague had intended to tell all,--almost all. There was a something about the journey to Lowestoft which it would be impossible to make Hetta understand, and he thought that that might be omitted. 'It was on account of her health.'
'Oh;--on account of her health. And did you go to the play with her?'
'I did.'
'Was that for her health?'
'Oh, Hetta, do not speak to me like that! Cannot you understand that when she came here, following me, I could not desert her?'
'I cannot understand why you deserted her at all,' said Hetta. 'You say you loved her, and you promised to marry her. It seems horrid to me to marry a divorced woman,--a woman who just says that she was divorced. But that is because I don't understand American ways. And I am sure you must have loved her when you took her to the theatre, and down to Lowestoft,--for her health. That was only a week ago.'
'It was nearly three weeks,' said Paul in despair.
'Oh;--nearly three weeks! That is not such a very long time for a gentleman to change his mind on such a matter. You were engaged to her, not three weeks ago.'
'No, Hetta, I was not engaged to her then.'
'I suppose she thought you were when she went to Lowestoft with you.'
'She wanted then to force me to--to--to--. Oh, Hetta, it is so hard to explain, but I am sure that you understand. I do know that you do not, cannot think that I have, even for one moment, been false to you.'
'But why should you be false to her? Why should I step in and crush all her hopes? I can understand that Roger should think badly of her because she was--divorced. Of course he would. But an engagement is an engagement. You had better go back to Mrs Hurtle and tell her that you are quite ready to keep your promise.'
'She knows now that it is all over.'
'I dare say you will be able to persuade her to reconsider it. When she came all the way here from San Francisco after you, and when she asked you to take her to the theatre, and to Lowestoft--because of her health, she must be very much attached to you. And she is waiting here,--no doubt on purpose for you. She is a very old friend,--very old,--and you ought not to treat her unkindly. Good bye, Mr Montague. I think you had better lose no time in going--back to Mrs Hurtle.' All this she said with sundry little impedimentary gurgles in her throat, but without a tear and without any sign of tenderness.