Or perhaps it will be all over
before she knows. Does happiness ever last?"
And, going up to him, she bent over, kissed his forehead, and went out.
The warmth from her lips, and the scent of her remained with Winton like
a sensation wafted from the past.
Was there then nothing to be done--nothing? Men of his stamp do not, as
a general thing, see very deep even into those who are nearest to them;
but to-night he saw his daughter's nature more fully perhaps than ever
before. No use to importune her to act against her instincts--not a bit
of use! And yet--how to sit and watch it all--watch his own passion with
its ecstasy and its heart-burnings re-enacted with her--perhaps for many
years? And the old vulgar saying passed through his mind: "What's bred
in the bone will come out in the meat." Now she had given, she would
give with both hands--beyond measure--beyond!--as he himself, as her
mother had given! Ah, well, she was better off than his own loved one
had been. One must not go ahead of trouble, or cry over spilled milk!
VIII
Gyp had a wakeful night. The question she herself had raised, of telling
Fiorsen, kept her thoughts in turmoil. Was he likely to divorce her if
she did? His contempt for what he called 'these bourgeois morals,' his
instability, the very unpleasantness, and offence to his vanity--all
this would prevent him.
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