"
"Always?" questioned Dinah. "Even if--if I never marry at all?"
"Certainly," he said.
"Because I never shall marry now," she said, speaking with difficulty.
"I--have quite given up that idea."
"I should like you to keep it in any case," Scott said.
"You are very good," she said earnestly. "I--I wonder you will have
anything to do with me now that you know how--how wicked I am."
"I don't think you wicked," he said.
"Don't you?" She opened her heavy eyes a little. "You don't blame me
for--for--" She broke off shuddering, and as she did so, there came again
the rumble and roar of a distant train. "Then why did you stop me?" she
whispered tensely.
Scott was silent for a moment or two. He was gazing straight before him.
At length, "I stopped you," he said, "because I had to. It doesn't matter
why. You would have done the same in my place. But I don't blame you,
partly because it is not my business, and partly because I know quite
well that you didn't realize what you were doing."
"I did realize," Dinah said. "If it weren't for you--because you are so
good--nothing would have stopped me. Even now--even now--" again the hot
tears came--"I've nothing to live for, and--and--God--doesn't--care."
She turned her face into her arm and wept silently.
Scott made a sudden movement, and threw his cigarette away. Then swiftly
he bent over her.
"Dinah," he said, "stop crying! You're making a big mistake.
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