Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. III, 1889.djvu/96

 people think about actresses. Mr. Kirkwood, do you imagine I have been living at my ease, congratulating myself that I had escaped from all hardships?”

He could not raise his eyes. As she still awaited his answer, he said in rather a hard voice:

“As I have told you, Ire adI read [sic] all the details that were published.”

“Then you know that I was working hard and honestly,—working far, far harder than when I lived in Clerkenwell Close. But I don’t know why I am talking to you about it. It’s all over. I went my own way, and I all but won what I fought for. You may very well say, what’s the use of mourning over one’s fate?”

Sidney had risen.

“You were strong in your resolve to succeed,” he said gravely, “and you will find strength to meet even this trial.”

“A weaker woman would suffer far less. One with a little more strength of character would kill herself.”

“No. In that you mistake. You have not yourself only to think of. It would be an