I am a woman of the world; I have seen a good deal of
life; if you allowed yourself to be guided by me, you would not
regret it."
"You want to save your friends from the results of their behaviour,"
he replied, uneasily.
"I assure you, it's not so much that--no, I have _your_ interests
in view quite as much as theirs. Now, seeing that Lilian cannot
possibly take her place as your wife in fact, and that it is
practically impossible to part her from Mr. Quarrier, wouldn't it be
well to ask yourself what is the most prudent course that
circumstances allow?"
"If it comes to that, I can always get a divorce."
Mrs. Wade reflected, but with no sign of satisfaction.
"Yes, that is open to you. You would then, of course, be enabled to
marry again.--May I ask if you are quite at ease with regard to
your prospects in life?"
The tone was so delicately impertinent that Northway missed its
significance.
"I haven't quite decided upon anything yet."
"Judging from your conversation, I should say that you will yet find
a place among active and successful men. But the beginning is
everything. If I could be of any assistance to you--I would put it
to you frankly, Mr. Northway: is it worth while sacrificing very
solid possibilities to your--your affection for a woman who has
deserted you?"
He shuffled on the chair, clicked with his tongue, and looked about
him undecidedly.
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