Page:Frank Owen - Woman Without Love (1949 reprint).djvu/11

 Mary Blaine sank down upon the bed. She had to think. Her world had come tumbling about her head. She had to rebuild it anew, rebuild it quickly else she might perish. She knew that there was no use to beg for mercy. In a house like this there would be no mercy. If she struggled she would be shown every indignity. If she seemed to be compliant, before long they might relax their vigil and it would be possible for her to escape. Fortunately she had always cared a great deal for men, not of course under such obnoxious conditions. Still it made it easier for her than if men had been repulsive to her.

At last she lifted her head and she was smiling. "What the hell," she said. "I didn't give a damn for Whitman anyway. I only went away with him because I wanted a good time. I was sick of the humdrum existence I had to live on the farm."

"I'm glad to hear you say that," the man declared, "because it is going to make your future a whole lot easier. You'll enjoy yourself. Lots of good food and you won't have a dull moment."

He arose to his feet. "My name," he said, "is John Rott. It is a God-awful name. I think it has ruined my life. With such a name I was cursed at birth. Had it not been for it, I might have turned out a poet. But one can't be a poet and have a name like John Rott. Everybody would say you wrote rotten poetry. But I was highly romantic, and even though I couldn't devote my life to love poems, I did devote them to love nights. Now I'll go down and have some food sent up to you. Are you hungry?"

"Not so very," she told him. "I hardly ever eat much in the morning. Just some toast and coffee and a bit of marmalade if you have it."

"You ought to eat more robust food than that," he chuckled. "You've got strenuous days ahead of you."

When John Rott had gone, Mary Blaine sat down on the bed. She was very bitter with life. What was the use of being good? She had never done a mean act in her life. What had it got her? What had Christ done for her? He had kicked her out of Heaven. Now she was headed for Hell. At least there she'd be more welcome.

She had a passionate, fiery nature. She was capable of the