The New Woman Part 57

What is the use of seeing him? You can send Gerald, but not Gerald's heart. I have done all I can--I can't do any more. I've saved his honour--I've resigned his love. All I ask is, to be left alone with mine.

[_Turning away._

[_LADY WARGRAVE rises, and as GERALD advances, retires into the house, C._

GERALD.

Margery!

MARGERY.

Gerald!

GERALD.

I am not here to ask you to come back to me. How can I say what I have come for? I have come--because I cannot keep away from you. To ask for your forgiveness----

MARGERY.

You have that.

GERALD.

And, if it's possible, some place in your esteem. Let me say this, and I will say no more. If, for a little s.p.a.ce, my heart strayed from you, Margery--if, for a moment, words escaped my lips which cannot be recalled, that is my only infidelity. You understand me?

MARGERY.

Yes.

GERALD.

That's what I came to say--that's all!

MARGERY [_giving him her hand_].

Thank you for telling me.

GERALD [_holding her hand_].

Not all I want to say, but all I must. I am no longer a free man. My lips are sealed.

MARGERY.

What seals them?

GERALD.

Haven't you heard? Sylvester's left his wife--and it is all my doing.

MARGERY.

No, it is his.

GERALD.

His?

MARGERY.

I may tell you now. He left his wife, not through your fault or hers, but to make love to me.

GERALD.

He has been here?

MARGERY.

But he has gone.

GERALD.

Where?

MARGERY.

To his wife. I sent him back to her.

GERALD.

Then, I am free!

MARGERY.

Yes, Gerald.

GERALD.

Free to say how I love you--how I have always loved you! Yes, Margery, I loved you even then--then when I spoke those unjust, cruel words; but love's so weird a thing it sometimes turns us against those we love. But when I saw you, there upon the ground, my heart turned back to you--no, it was not my heart, only my lips that were unfaithful! My heart was always yours--not half of it, but all--yours when I married you, yours when you said good-bye, and never more yours, never as much as now, now I have lost you.

MARGERY.

You have not lost me, if you love me that much!

[_Throwing her arms round him._

GERALD.

Margery!