"Oh-oh, are you? Of what?"
"Of this-this deceitful life I am leading-have been leading. I-I-I am going to confess the whole truth."
"Rich-ard!"
He let fall the scissors and paced restlessly away down the room.
"I-I tell you, Lavinia, I cannot endure it! I cannot! I cannot! The thought of what John may be bearing is driving me crazy! I must speak!"
"You-you can't!" she gasped. "After seven years! Dicky, for heaven's sake-!" The colour ebbed and flowed in her cheeks.
"I cannot continue any longer this living of a lie-I have been feeling it more and more ever since-ever since I met-Jack-that time on the road. And now I can no longer stand it. Everywhere I go I seem to see him-looking at me-you don't understand-"
Lavinia cast aside her work.
"No! No! I do not! 'Pon rep., but you should have thought of this before, Dick!"
"I know it. Nothing can excuse my cowardice-my weakness. I know all that, but it is not too late even now to make amends. In a week they will all know the truth."
"What-what do you mean?"
"I have requested all whom it concerns to come to Wyncham the Friday after this."
"Good heavens! Dick, Dick, think!"
"I have thought. God! how I have thought!"
"It is not fair to me! Oh, think of your honour-Wyncham!"
"My honour is less than nothing. 'Tis of his that I think."
She sprang up, clutching at his arm, shaking him.
"Richard, you are mad! You must not do this! You must not, I say!"
"I implore you, Lavinia, not to try to make me change my decision. It is of no use. Nothing you can say will make any difference."
She flew into a passion, flinging away from him, her good resolutions forgotten.
"You have no right to disgrace me! If you do it, I will never forgive you! I won't stay with you-I-"
He broke in-this was what he had expected; he must not whine; this was retribution.
"I know. I have faced that."
She was breathless for a moment. He knew! He had faced it! He had taken her seriously-he always expected her to leave him! Oh, he must indeed be tired of her, and wanted her to go! What was he saying?
"I know that you love Lovelace. I-I have known it for some time."
Lavinia sank into the nearest chair. To what depths had her folly led her?
"I shall put no obstacle in the way of your flight, of course. . ."
This was dreadful! Lady Lavinia buried her face in her hands and burst into tears. It was true then-he did not love her-he loved Mrs.