herself talking with him for long on any other subject, save,
perhaps, the politics of the nation--which, in truth, rather bored
her. As for small talk she would as readily have thought of
inflicting the Almighty in her prayers.

Nor was it often they drifted into personalities or the human
problems. One day, however, he did ask her tentatively if she did not
think that divorce was justifiable in certain circumstances.

She merely stared at him in horror.

"Well, there is your erstwhile friend, Sibyl Geary. She fell in love
with another man, her husband was a sot, she got her divorce without
legal opposition, and married Forbes--finest kind of fellow."

"Divorce is against the canons of Church and Society. No woman
should break her solemn vows, no matter what her provocation. Look at
Maria Groome. Do you think she would divorce Alexander? She has
provocation enough."

"You are both High Church, but all women are not. Mrs. Geary is a
mere Presbyterian. And at least she is as happy as she was wretched
before."

"No woman can be happy who has lost the respect of Society."

"I thought you were bored with Society."

"Yes, but it is mine to have. Being bored is quite different from
being cast out like a pariah."