Пробный камень
XIII
Thingsyousaid—onceortwice—yourirritation—Ican’texplain—”
Glennard,unconsciously,hadmovednearer.Hebreathedlikeamanwhohasbeenrunning.“Youknew,then,youknew”—hestammered.TheavowalofherloveforFlamelwouldhavehurthimless,wouldhaverenderedherlessremote.“Youknew—youknew—”herepeated;andsuddenlyhisanguishgatheredvoice.“MyGod!”hecried,“yoususpecteditfirst,yousay—andthenyouknewit—thisdamnable,thisaccursedthing;youknewitmonthsago—it’smonthssinceIputthatpaperinyourway—andyetyou’vedonenothing,you’vesaidnothing,you’vemadenosign,you’velivedalongsideofmeasifithadmadenodifference—nodifferenceineitherofourlives.Whatareyoumadeof,Iwonder?Don’tyouseethehideousignominyofit?Don’tyouseehowyou’vesharedinmydisgrace?Orhaven’tyouanysenseofshame?”
Hepreservedsufficientlucidity,asthewordspouredfromhim,toseehowfatallytheyinvitedherderision;butsomethingtoldhimtheyhadbothpassedbeyondthephaseofobviousretaliations,andthatifanychordinherrespondeditwouldnotbethatofscorn.
Hewasright.Sheroseslowlyandmovedtowardhim.
“Haven’tyouhadenough—withoutthat?”shesaid,inastrangevoiceofpity.
Hestaredather.“Enough—?”
“Ofmisery....”
Anironbandseemedloosenedfromhistemples.“Yousawthen...?”hewhispered.
“Oh,God——oh,God——”shesobbed.Shedroppedbesidehimandhidheranguishagainsthisknees.
