"You won't mind my crying," she said
faintly, trying to smile through her tears. "This is the saddest
parting I have ever known. Dear, dear Hugh--good-bye!"
Great is the law of Duty; but the elder law of Love claims its higher
right. Never, in all the years of their friendship, had they forgotten
themselves as they forgot themselves now. For the first time her lips
met his lips, in their farewell kiss. In a moment more, they remembered
the restraints which honour imposed on them; they were only friends
again. Silently she lowered her veil. Silently he took her arm and led
her down to the carriage. It was moving away from them at a slow pace,
towards the other end of the street. Instead of waiting for its return,
they followed and overtook it.
"We shall meet again," he whispered.
She answered sadly: "Don't forget me."
Mountjoy turned back. As he approached the hotel he noticed a tall man
crossing from the opposite side of the street. Not two minutes after
Iris was on her way home, her jealous husband and her old friend met at
the hotel door.
Lord Harry spoke first. "I have been dining out," he said, "and I came
here to have a word with you, Mr. Mountjoy, on my road home.
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