Chapter XVIII The Guilty One“ALVORD, you shock me—you amaze me! How dare you talk to me of love, when my husband hasn’t been dead a fortnight?”
“What matter, Eunice? You never really loved Sanford—”
“I did—I did!”
“Not lately, anyhow. Perhaps just at first—and then, not deeply. He carried you originally by storm—it was an even toss-up whether he or Elliott or I won out. He was the most forceful of the three, and he made you marry him—didn’t he now?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I married Sanford of my own free will—”
“Yes, and in haste, and repented at leisure. Now, don’t be hypocritical, and pretend to grieve for him. His death was shocking—fearful—but you’re really relieved that he is gone. Why not admit it?”
“Alvord, stop such talk! I command you! I won’t listen!”
“Very well, dearest, I
