I must beg you
to speak plainly. Are you suggesting that I should make provision
for the support of you and your mother away from my intolerable
proximity? My income is not large, as I think you are aware, but
of course, if a demand of this kind is seriously made, I must do
my best to comply with it.'
'It hurts me very much that you can understand me no better than
this.'
'I am sorry. I think we used to understand each other, but that
was before you were subjected to the influence of strangers.'
In his perverse frame of mind he was ready to give utterance to
any thought which confused the point at issue. This last allusion
was suggested to him by a sudden pang of regret for the pain he
was causing Marian; he defended himself against self-reproach by
hinting at the true reason of much of his harshness.
'I am subjected to no influence that is hostile to you,' Marian
replied.
'You may think that. But in such a matter it is very easy for you
to deceive yourself.'
'Of course I know what you refer to, and I can assure you that I
don't deceive myself.
Pages:
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526