Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/558

Rh motive—or failed to see that it was justiﬁed … under the circumstances.…”

“Oh, John—John!” she broke out in the wild joy of hearing herself absolved; but the next instant her subtle perceptions felt the unconscious reserve behind his admission.

“Your mind justiﬁes me—not your heart; isn’t that your misery?” she said.

He looked at her almost piteously, as if, in the last resort, it was from her that light must come to him. “On my soul, I don’t know … I can’t tell … it’s all dark in me. I know you did what you thought best … if I had been there, I believe I should have asked you to do it … but I wish to God”

She interrupted him sobbingly. “Oh, I ought never to have let you love me! I ought to have seen that I was cut off from you forever. I have brought you wretchedness when I would have given my life for you! I don’t deserve that you should forgive me for that.”

Her sudden outbreak seemed to restore his self-possession. He went up to her and took her hand with a quieting touch.

“There is no question of forgiveness, Justine. Don’t let us torture each other with vain repinings. Our business is to face the thing, and we shall be better for having talked it out. I shall be better, for my part, [ 542 ]