Alpha Book

. . . And, Phil, I will try to s-steer straight--because you
ask me."
"You must."
"I will. . . . It is good to be here. . . . I must not come again, must
I?"
"Not again, Alixe."
"On your account?"
"On your own. . . . What do _I_ care?"
"I didn't know. They say--"
"What?" he asked sharply.
"A rumour--I heard it--others speak of it--perhaps to be disagreeable to
me--"
"What have you heard?"
"That--that you might marry again--"
"Well, you can nail that lie," he said hotly.
"Then it is not true?"
"True! Do you think I'd take that chance again even if I felt free to do
it?"
"Free?" she faltered; "but you _are_ free, Phil!"
"I am not," he said fiercely; "no man is free to marry twice under such
conditions. It's a jest at decency and a slap in the face of
civilisation! I'm done for--finished; I had my chance and I failed. Do
you think I consider myself free to try again with the chance of further
bespattering my family?"
"Wait until you really love," she said tremulously.


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