"There are special dispensations. I don't see why we keep on inviting
those creatures unless it is because they're related to Paul. I suppose
Belhaven really means to come; it isn't informal enough to let him off,
you know."
"There seems to be no question about his coming."
Astry smiled again. "My dear Rachel," he said carelessly, "there might
be a question about it; if I were Belhaven there would be a question
about it."
She colored and Astry saw that she understood.
"Even an Arab has a right to protection; his bread and salt should not
be abused," he said, watching her.
"But his bread and salt protect the life of the stranger who tastes
them," she answered quickly.
Astry smiled bitterly. "I never thought of you as one to plead for the
transgressor."
Rachel put the little book down on the table and sat looking at him
with grave eyes, her heart throbbing heavily. Had Eva told him or--some
one else?
He came over and stood beside her. "Rachel, I'm deeply sorry that there
seems no way out, that you've got to bear it--or else your sacrifice
goes for nothing."
"You mean--" she could not go on.
"Eva has told me."
Rachel sank back in her chair, her hands trembling in her lap.
"Johnstone--you've forgiven her?"
He had averted his face and she saw only the outlines of the strong,
lithe figure and fine head. There was a brief significant pause, then
he turned, and Rachel saw the wreck of happiness in his face.
"I've tried to."
She hid her own face in her hands; the relief was intense that the
concealment was over! Astry turned and walked twice across the room.
"Why didn't you let me kill him that night?"
"I couldn't--and I had to save Eva."
"That would have saved her and he--he needed killing!"
Rachel's hands fell in her lap again; she looked at him gravely, her
face tear-stained and pale. "Would it have saved the poor child to have
destroyed her name, to murder a man, and hang for it yourself?"
He was silenced.
"That was it, that is what you would have done, Johnstone, and I had to
save you both. I did wrong, I've suffered for it, but oh, thank God,
Eva's told you the truth!"
"Rachel, I've felt, and I know Eva feels, that we've no right to accept
your sacrifice; we want to set you free even at the price of scandal.
Eva begs me to set you free, but--"
"You see how it is? If I get a divorce it will ruin Eva."
"I see how it is, otherwise I'd shoot that fellow now, but I can't
touch him without injury to you both. Yet--my God, Rachel, I've no
right to hold you to it."
"You don't. I feel so differently from you about it, you don't
understand. I can't break the marriage; I've got to take the
punishment, for I did it myself. I've got to keep my contract."
"You mean that your scruples won't permit you to break it?"
"Don't you understand? I was wrong to do it; I see it. I did it to save
Eva, but I had no right to take the vows as I did. I dare not break
them."
"Do you mean you're afraid of the scandal, or the odium of it all?"
"I'll have to be very plain--I'm afraid of God."
He stood looking at her a while in silence. Then his face changed and
softened.
"Like Felix, I'm almost persuaded," he said.
Rachel made a slight deprecating gesture. "Would I have made this
sacrifice if I'd contemplated making it void?"