Page:Stella Dallas, a novel (IA stelladallasnove00prou).pdf/256

246 Gracious! What had happened? The shining look had all gone from her eyes and the light from her expression. She looked gray, ashen, and old, terribly old.

"Look here, Mrs. Morrison," Stella went on, "I'm not going to beat about the bush any longer. I've been thinking a good deal lately of the advantages to me if I got things fixed up between Stephen and myself, the way he wanted them fixed up a while ago. But before I do any more thinking I want to find out how things are now between Stephen and you."

Helen's clasped hands tightened upon her knee, but she showed no feeling when she spoke.

"Mrs. Dallas," she said, "I don't want to be unkind, but self-denial, our duty to others, the toll that must be paid for mistakes, separation from each other—nothing will ever destroy that which exists, even though without form or expression, between Stephen and me."

Stella looked puzzled.

"But what I want to know is, if Stephen was free, if I stepped aside, the way he suggested, would you two get married?" Might as well come right out with the nub. After all, it didn't make her jump.

"We would," Helen replied.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"But you haven't seen Stephen for two years."

"I know, I know. Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Dallas. But the truth is best. I think you want it."

"It's what I came for."

"It's what I shall give you, even though it costs me Stephen himself."