Eva shook her head slowly. "It's natural--I--I--oh, Rachel, I was
begging him to let you go; I can't bear it, I've ruined your life and
his and Johnstone's--I can never be anything to him either!"
Rachel caught her hands in hers. "Eva, you're beginning to care what
Johnstone thinks?"
Eva slipped from the chair to the floor at her sister's feet. "Rachel,
I can't bear it any longer; I was false and cruel, I know it now! I've
never done a noble thing in my life and you've always been an angel
to me, Rachel," her head sank lower. "I was going away that night
with Belhaven and--at the last--I was afraid; I made you save me from
Astry's anger."
Rachel's heart seemed to stop beating; she could not speak. What had
she done, what had she done? And Eva was guilty!
The golden head sank lower.
"Rachel, it's almost killed me. If any one thinks it's happiness to do
such a thing, it isn't. The way--the way of the transgressor is hard;
God only knows how hard is the way!"
Rachel raised her gently and put her in the chair, then she knelt down
beside her and held her in her arms.
"I'd gladly die if I could undo it," Eva said brokenly, "but I can't.
It's like a trap; I'm caught, I can't get away from my sins."
"Eva, do you--still love him?"
"You mean Belhaven?" Eva hid her face on Rachel's shoulder. "Never,
never a moment after I saw he was afraid of Johnstone!"
"Thank God!"
"What does it matter?" Eva was in despair. "What does anything matter?
I can't undo it! I don't think he'll let you get a divorce; he said it
wouldn't do any good. Oh, Rachel, I'm so wretched! What can I do?"
"You can tell the truth to Johnstone now, Eva."