Page:The Painted Veil - Maugham - 1925.djvu/200

 “I shouldn’t have thought you were the sort of person to put yourself out for a few stuffy nuns and a parcel of Chinese brats.”

Her lips outlined a smile.

“I think it’s rather unfair to me so much because you made such a mistake in your judgment of me. It’s not my fault that you were such an ass.”

“If you’re determined to stay you are of course at liberty to do so.”

“I’m sorry I can’t give you the opportunity of being magnanimous.” She found it strangely hard to be quite serious with him. “As a matter of fact you’re quite right, it’s not only for the orphans that I’m staying: you see, I’m in the peculiar position that I haven’t got a soul in the world that I can go to. I know no one who wouldn’t think me a nuisance. I know no one who cares a row of pins if I’m alive or dead.”

He frowned. But he did not frown in anger.

“We have made a dreadful hash of things, haven’t we?” he said.

“Do you still want to divorce me? I don’t think I care any more.”

“You must know that by bringing you here I’ve condoned the offence.”

“I didn’t know. You see, I haven”t made a study of infidelity. What are we going to do then when we leave here? Are we going on living together?”

“Oh, don’t you think we can let the future take care of itself?”

There was the weariness of death in his voice.