"
"Why?"
"Because, without knowing it, he has taught me what women are."
"What do you mean?"
"I--loved you, Cleone. To me you were one apart--holy, immaculate--"
"Yes?" said Cleone very softly.
"And I find you--"
"Only a--woman, sir,--who will not be watched, and frowned at, and
spied upon."
"--a heartless coquette--" said Barnabas.
"--who despises eavesdroppers, and will not be spied upon, or
frowned at!"
"I did not spy upon you," cried Barnabas, stung at last, "or if I did,
God knows it was well intended."
"How, sir?"
"I remembered the last time we three were together,--in Annersley
Wood." Here my lady shivered and hid her face. "And now, you gave
him the rose! Do you want the love of this man, Cleone?"
"There is only one man in all the world I despise more, and his name
is--Barnabas," said she, without looking up.
"So you--despise me, Cleone?"
"Yes--Barnabas."
"And I came here to tell you that I--loved you--to ask you to be my
wife--"
"And looked at me with Devil's eyes--"
"Because you were mine, and because he--"
"Yours, Barnabas? I never said so."
"Because I loved you--worshipped you, and because--"
"Because you were--jealous, Barnabas!"
"Because I would have my wife immaculate--"
"But I am not your--wife.
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