Her face was deadly pale, her eyes expanded, her breath came sharp and
quick. "How was it don how was it done? Was she here in Montreal?"
"I don't know how it was done, but she was here, and Junia got this from
her. I shan't know how till I've seen Junia."
"Junia is the best friend," said the stricken woman gently, "in all the
world; she's--"
"She's so good a friend she must be told the truth," he said firmly.
"Oh, not while I live! I could not bear that--"
"How could I ask Junia to marry me and not tell her all the
truth--mother, can't you see?"
The woman's face flushed scarlet. "Ah, yes, I see, my boy--I see."
"Haven't we had enough of secrecy--in your letter you lamented it! If it
was right for you to be secret all these years, is it not a hundred times
right now for me to tell you the truth. . . . I have no name--no name,"
he added, tragedy in his tone.
"You have my name. You may say I have no right to it, but it is the only
name I can carry; they both are dead, and I must keep it. It wrongs no
one living but you, and you have no hatred of me: you think I do not
wrong you--isn't that so?"
His cheek was hot with feeling. "Yes, that's true," he said. "You must
still keep your married name.
Pages:
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276