been incurred by either--"

Mr. Medlicott clasped his hands convulsively but he did not reply--so
the Russian went on:

"Surely, you must see that a woman should be free to marry--that
is, to give herself and her power to become a mother where she
loves--not to be forced to bestow these sacred gifts when her
spirit is unwilling--just because she has made the initial mistake
of affiancing herself to a man, often through others' influence,
who she discovers afterward is distasteful to her. Cannot you
realize that it is wise for himself as well as for her that this
man release her, before a life of long misery begins for them
both?"

Mr. Medlicott never analyzed reasons, and never listened to other
people's logic, and if he had any of his own he was too angry to
use it. He was simply conscious now that a foreigner had insulted
him and appeared to have stolen the affections of his betrothed,
and his sacred calling precluded all physical retaliation--which,
at the moment, was the only kind that would have given him any
satisfaction. He prepared to stalk furiously from the room after
he should receive an answer to an all-important question.

"The whole thing is disgraceful," he said, "and I shall inform
Miss Rawson's uncle and aunt of your highly insulting words to me,
that they may guard her from further importunity upon your part.
But I should like to know, in fairness, how far you are stating
you have been able to persuade my fiancee to agree to your view?"