下载辰思小说免费APP
haveforfeitedanyclaim.I\'veneglectedyou,andI\'veneglectedthechildren.Ourmarriagehasbeenonafalsebasisfromthestart,andI\'vebeentoblameforit.Thereismoretobesaidaboutthechancesforasuccessfulmarriageinthesedays,butI\'mnotgoingtodwellonthatnow,orattempttoshoulderoffmyshortcomingsonmybringingup,onthecivilizationinwhichwehavelived.You\'vetriedtodoyourshare,andthefailurehasn\'tbeenyourfault.IwanttotellyoufirstofallthatIrecognizeyourrighttoliveyourlifefromnowon,independentlyofme,ifyousodesire.Yououghttohavethechildren——"
Ihesitatedamoment.ItwasthehardestthingIhadtosay."I\'venevertroubledmyselfaboutthem,I\'venevertakenonanyresponsibilityinregardtotheirbringingup."
"Hugh!"shecried.
"Wait——I\'vegotmoretotellyou,thatyououghttoknow.Ishouldn\'tbehereto-dayifNancyDurretthadconsentedto——togetadivorceandmarryme.WehadagreedtothatwhenthisaccidenthappenedtoHam,andshewentbacktohim.IhavetotellyouthatIstillloveher——Ican\'tsayhowmuch,ordefinemyfeelingstowardhernow.I\'vegivenupallideaofher.Idon\'tthinkI\'dmarryhernow,evenifIhadthechance,andyoushoulddecidetoliveawayfromme.Idon\'tknow.I\'mnotsosureofmyselfasIoncewas.Thefactis,Maude,circumstanceshavebeentoomuchforme.I\'vebeenbeaten.AndI\'mnotatallcertainthatitwasn\'tacowardlythingformetocomebacktoyouatall."
Ifeltherhandtremblingundermine,butIhadnotthecouragetolookather.Iheardhercallmynameagainalittlecry,theverypoignancyofpityanddistress.Italmostunnervedme.
"Iknewthatyoulovedher,Hugh,"shesaid."Itwasonly——onlyalittlewhileafteryoumarriedmethatIfounditout.Iguessedit——womendoguesssuchthings——longbeforeyourealizedityourself.Yououghttohavemarriedherinsteadofme.Youwouldhavebeenhappierwithher."
Ididnotanswer.
"I,too,havethoughtagreatdeal,"shewenton,afteramoment."I
beganearlierthanyou,Ihadto."Ilookedupsuddenlyandsawhersmilingatme,faintly,throughhertears."ButI\'vebeenthinkingmore,andlearningmoresinceI\'vebeenoverhere.I\'vecometoseethatthatourfailurehasn\'tbeenasmuchyourfaultasIoncethought,asmuchasyouyourselfdeclare.Youhavedonemeawrong,andyou\'vedonethechildrenawrong.Oh,itisfrightfultothinkhowlittleIknewwhenI
marriedyou,buteventhenIfeltinstinctivelythatyoudidn\'tlovemeasIdeservedtobeloved.AndwhenwecamebackfromEuropeIknewthatIcouldn\'tsatisfyyou,Icouldn\'tlookuponlifeasyousawit,nomatterhowhardItried.Ididtry,butitwasn\'tanyuse.You\'llneverknowhowmuchI\'vesufferedalltheseyears.
"Ihavebeenhappierhere,awayfromyou,withthechildren;I\'vehadachancetobemyself.Itisn\'tthatI\'m——much.Itisn\'tthatIdon\'tneedguidanceandcounseland——sympathy.I\'vemissed
