Courtney hesitated, dared. "She might be already married."
"Courtney!" And her horrified eyes told Courtney she had caught the intended hint that Basil was in love with some married woman. "It isn’t possible!"
"Yes—but— No married woman a nice man would notice would ever think of another man than her husband."
"I don’t know about a ’nice’ woman," said Courtney, slowly. "But I can imagine that a _human_ woman—if her husband neglected her, and chilled and killed her love——"
Helen was not listening, was not aware that she had interrupted as she said, "Do you think Mr. Gallatin could be in love with some married woman—of—of our class?"
"I suspect so," replied Courtney, gazing calmly into her eyes.
"I’ll not believe it!" cried Helen. "I’ll not believe it!"
"You’re like all girls. Because your own head’s full of marriage, you think every man who’s polite to you, or flirts a little to make the time pass more agreeably, is about to send for the preacher. Now, frankly, has Basil ever made love to you?"
"But what?" came from Courtney sharp and arresting as a shot.
"I _feel_ he is fond of me," confessed Helen.
Courtney laughed harshly. "All men are fond of all good-looking women—especially in the spring. Don’t be a fool, Helen."
"But a married woman has no right to him!"
Courtney flushed, and her eyes flashed. "And how do you know? And what right have you to judge? Are you God?"
"No!" cried Courtney. "How do you know what he—his love may mean to her? How do you know but what it may be the one thing between her and despair and ruin? You, with your timid, proper calculating little love! Why, if the woman cared enough for him—needed him so—that she sacrificed self-respect—honor—truth—all—all—for love—what could you give him to replace it? And what are your needs beside hers?"
Helen’s face grew hard as these words that outraged every principle of her training poured recklessly from Courtney’s lips. "I’m astounded at your defending a bad woman," she said. "You’re _too_ generous, Courtney. You’d feel differently if she were taking Richard away from you. But, I’m not in love with Basil. I see you know things about him. I—I—despise him. I pity him, of course, for he might have been a nice man. But I couldn’t love him. I’m glad you told me. I might have engaged myself to him."