For a moment there was a dead silence: Jasper broke it.
"I did not understand," he said. It was an admission on his part. At the time she did not realize it.
"Of course you did not," she said, and a trace of weariness had found its way into her voice. "You would never understand what offended your taste. For a crime alone you might find excuse, provided it was sufficiently picturesque. For mere sordidness there is none in your eyes. You said it was not too late. I say it is. For years your refinement and your conscience have been at war. You have not had the moral courage to leave me, nor the manhood to help me--to help me to regain the self-respect I lost seven years ago. I am tired at last of you, tired of these perfunctory visits. They can end."
"Simply that I don't want to see you again. You can't get a divorce--I have at least been faithful to you; there is not even cause for a legal separation----"
"Bridget!" he cried, shocked. "I have never wanted----"
"Please don't protest, Jasper. Actions speak a good deal louder than words. You have hated these four yearly visits quite as much as I have. Your conscience has ordered you to make them. You have kept it quiet by a quarterly journey to Chiswick. Your refinement has shrunk more each time from the sight of me. The fact that Duty alone was urging you to it has made it more difficult for you. Now it is I who say they must cease."
She laughed. "You always had little sense of humour, Jasper, and now I think that little must have died. You don't understand what I mean? That shows it is quite--quite dead. I am now going to take all responsibility off your shoulders by refusing to see you again."
"Then I shall go away where you cannot find me."
"How can you live if I don't know where you are?" he asked. "You have no money of your own. I must send you some."
"I know you have considered it your duty to make me an allowance," she replied, "and in my candid opinion that is still your duty. If, however, you persist in coming to see me I shall make it impossible for you to send me money by going away where you will be unable to find me. I can work. It might be better for me to do so. You can decide."
"I shall send you the money," he said stubbornly.