She spoke as though she feared me!
"Then you have no trust in me?" I exclaimed despairingly. "For one
simple little piece of negligence you have utterly abandoned me!"
"No!" she replied, in a voice low but firm. "You have spoken the truth.
I cannot trust you, neither can I love you. Therefore let us part, and
let us in future remain asunder."
"Ah, no!" I cried, imploringly. "Don't utter those cruel words,
Muriel. You cannot really mean them. You know how fondly I love you."
We had arrived outside Highbury Station; and as I uttered these words
she halted, and without response, held out her hand, saying in a cold
tone--
"You must leave me now. I ask this favour of you."
"I cannot leave you," I panted in the wild desire which possessed me.
"You must be mine, Muriel. Do not let this man draw you beneath his
influence by his smooth words and studied politeness, for recollect who
he is. You are aware--therefore I need not tell you."
"Who he is? What do you mean?"
"I mean that he is in no way fit to be your lover," I responded, my
lover's flame of passion unallayed. "When you meet him, test him and
watch if he really loves you. Recollect that your beauty, Muriel, is
striking; and that personal beauty is often woman's deadliest enemy. I
have, as you know, always sought to protect you from men who have
flattered you merely because you possessed a pretty face. I loved you
then, darling--I love you now!"
A sigh escaped her, but without a word she turned and left me ere I
could prevent her, and even as I stood I saw her walk straight across to
the station entrance, where she joined the lean, shabby man who had been
awaiting her to keep an appointment.
Her eyes, quickened by love, had detected him ere he had noticed her,
for he gave no glance in my direction, but lifting his shabby silk hat
he grasped her hand, then walked on by her side, while I stood lonely
and desolate, watching him disappear in the darkness with the woman I so
fondly loved.
I, faint soul, had given myself helplessly into the evil hands of Aline
for no purpose. All was in vain. I had been brought near to hope's
fruition, but Muriel had forsaken me. She had told me plainly that in
her heart no spark of affection remained.
I stood crushed--hopeless--the past an inexplicable mystery, the future
a grey, barren sea of despair.