No man
except Carnac, and that he had done it was like a lash upon the raw
skinless flesh. If she had been asked by the Almighty whether she loved
Carnac, she would have said she did not know. This was not a matter of
love; but of womanhood, of self-respect, of the pride of one who cannot
ask for herself what she wants in the field of love, who must wait to be
wooed and won.
"You don't think I'm straight," he said in protest. "You think I'm no
good, that I'm a fraud. You're wrong. Believe me, that is the truth." He
came closer up to her. "Junia, if you'll stand by me, I'm sure I'll come
out right. I've been caught in a mesh I can't untangle yet, but it can be
untangled, and when it is, you shall know everything, because then you'll
understand. I can free myself from the tangle, but it could never be
explained--not so the world would believe. I haven't trifled with you. I
would believe in you even if I saw, or thought I saw, the signs of wrong
in you. I would know that at heart you were good. I put my faith in you
long ago--last year I staked all on your friendship, and I haven't been
deceived."
He smiled at her, his soul in his eyes. There was truth in his smile, and
she realized it.
After a moment, she put out a hand and pushed him gently from her.
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