"
"You married me to Peter Cheever."
"Why, yes, I believe I did. I marry so many dear girls. Yes, I
remember your wedding perfectly. A very pretty occasion, and you
looked extremely well. So did the bridegroom. I was quite proud
of joining two such--such--"
"Please unjoin us."
"Great Heavens, my child! What are you saying?"
"I am asking you to untie the knot you tied."
The old man stared at her, took his glasses off, rubbed them, put them
on, and peered into her face to make sure of her. Then he said:
"If that were in my power--and you know perfectly well that it is
not--it would be a violation of all that I hold sacred in matrimony."
"Just what do you hold sacred, Doctor Mosely?"
"Dear, dear, this will never do. Really, I don't wish to take
advantage of my cloth, but, really, you know, Charity, you have
been taught better than to snap at the clergy like that."
"Forgive me; I'm excited, not irreverent. But--well, you don't
believe in divorce, do you?"
"I have stated so with all the power of my poor eloquence."
"Do you believe that the seventh commandment is the least important
of the lot?"
"Certainly not!"
"If a man breaks any commandment he ought to do what he can to
remedy the evil?"
"Yes."
"Then if a man violates the seventh, why shouldn't he be compelled
to make restitution, too?"
"What restitution could he make?"
"Not much. He has taken from the girl he marries her name, her
innocence, her youth--he can restore only one thing--her freedom.
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