"
"I do not," he returned, stern and grave, gazing far away over the
landscape.
"No," she cried in a sudden transport of painful emotion; "you hold it
against me like a grudge--a grudge that you despise too much to wreak
vengeance for its sake. The past will always live in your memory--you
hold it like a sword to my throat. You know that I shall always feel the
torture of its edge, but in your magnanimity"--with sarcastic
emphasis--"you forbear to thrust in the murderous blade."
"Good God, Lillian!" exclaimed Bayne, losing his balance altogether at
the accusation. "How have I arrogated magnanimity, or anything else? I
assume nothing! I have sought to efface myself while here, as far as
might be. For the sake of all concerned--you, the Briscoes, _les
convenances_, myself--I could not run away at the sight of you, like a
whipped hound! But I perceive my error. I will get out of this forthwith.
Heaven knows it has been anything but a pleasure!"
"Don't let me stand between you and your friends," she sobbed, weeping
now in the reaction of sentiment.
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