I believed him--and I believe him
still--I mean I _would_ believe him, but for you. Will you do me a
favour? I wish you wouldn't look at me with those eyes that won't lie;
I wish you wouldn't speak to me with that voice which finds things out.
Oh, good Heavens, do you suppose I would let you think that my husband
is a bad man, and my marriage an unhappy one? Never! If it turns my
blood to sit and eat at the same table with Mr. Vimpany, I'm not cruel
enough to blame the dear doctor. It's my wickedness that's to blame. We
shall quarrel, if you tell me that Harry is capable of letting a rascal
be his friend. I'm happy; I'm happy; I'm happy!--do you understand
that? Oh, Hugh, I wish you had never come to see me!"
She burst into a passionate fit of weeping, broken down at last under
the terrible strain laid on her. "Let me hide myself!" was all that
Iris could say to her old friend--before she ran out of the room, and
left him.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE MAID AND THE KEYHOLE
DEEPLY as she had grieved him, keenly as he felt that his worst fears
for her threatened already to be realised, it was characteristic of
Mountjoy that he still refused to despair of Iris--even with the
husband's influence against him.
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