"The colour left his face; his lips quivered, and he looked as if he
would have killed me.

"'What monstrous thing is this? What do you mean by your
tomfooleries?'

"I did not speak.

"'Speak!' he roared. 'What am I to understand by rectifying your
mistake? By the living God, you shall not make me the laughing-stock
and gossip of the town! I'll crush you first.'

"I was astonished to see such rage develop itself so suddenly in him,
and yet afterwards, when I came to reflect, I saw there was no reason
for surprise. Self, self was his god, and the thought of the damage
which would be done to him and his reputation was what roused him. I
was still silent, and he went on -

"'I suppose you intend to leave me, and you think you'll disgrace me.
You'll disgrace yourself. Everybody knows me here, and knows you've
had every comfort and everything to make you happy. Everybody will say
what everybody will have the right to say about you. Out with it and
confess the truth, that one of your snivelling poets has fallen in love
with you and you with him.'

"I still held my peace, but I rose and went into the best bedchamber,
and sat there in the dark till bedtime. I heard James come upstairs at
ten o'clock as usual, go to his own room, and lock himself in. I never
hesitated a moment. I could not go home to become the centre of all
the chatter of the little provincial town in which I was born. My old