"George," she said. "You don't understand. You will come
to me always. But that woman never shall cross my
threshold."
"Mother! Do you mean what you say?"
It was a man, not a shuffling boy that spoke now. "Do
you mean that we are not to go to you to-morrow? Not to
go home in October? Never----"
"Your home is open to you. But Pauline Felix's child is
no more to me than a wild beast--or a snake in the grass,
and never can be." She faced him steadily now.
"There she is," said Frances, looking at the little black
figure under the trees, "and here am I. You can choose
between us."
"Those whom God hath joined together," muttered George.
"You know that."
"You have known her for three weeks," cried Frances
vehemently. "I gave you life. I have been your slave
every hour since you were born. I have lived but for
you. Which of us has God joined together?"
"Mother, you're damnably unreasonable! It is the course
of nature for a man to leave his parents and cleave to
his wife."
"Yes , I know," she said slowly. "You can keep that foul
thing in your life, but it never shall come into mine."
"Then neither will I. I will stand by my wife."
"That is the end, then?"
She waited, her eyes on his.
He did not speak.
She turned and left him, disappearing slowly in the rain
and mist.
CHAPTER IV
Two days later Mr. Perry met Miss Vance in Canterbury and
told her of the marriage. She hurried back to London.
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