"
"Do you regret your course?" he asked with a slight tremor in his
voice.
"I regret that I misled--that I wronged him beyond all words. I am
willing to make all the amends in my power."
"Do you love him?"
She now turned wholly away and shook her head.
"And yet you would marry him?"
"Yes, if he wished it, knowing all the truth."
"Can you believe he would wish it?" he asked indignantly. "Can you
believe that any man--"
"Then avenge him to your cruel soul's content," she exclaimed
passionately. "Tell him that I have no heart to give to him or to
any one. Through no effort or fault of mine I overheard Mrs.
Alston's words and yours. I know your design against me. Assuage
your friend's grief by assuring him of your entire success, of
which you are already so well aware. Tell him how you triumphed
over an untaught, thoughtless girl who was impelled merely by the
love of power and excitement, as you are governed by ambition and
a remorseless will. I did not know--I did not understand how cruel
I was, although now that I do know I shall never forgive myself.
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