self after; I should feel so mean.
Oh, Dad, don't you see? He really loved me in his way. And to pretend!
To make out a case for myself, tell about Daphne Wing, about his
drinking, and baby; pretend that I wanted him to love me, when I got to
hate it and didn't care really whether he was faithful or not--and
knowing all the while that I've been everything to someone else! I
couldn't. I'd much rather let him know, and ask him to divorce me."

Winton replied:

"And suppose he won't?"

"Then my mind would be clear, anyway; and we would take what we could."

"And little Gyp?"

Staring before her as if trying to see into the future, she said slowly:

"Some day, she'll understand, as I do. Or perhaps it will be all over
before she knows. Does happiness ever last?"

And, going up to him, she bent over, kissed his forehead, and went out.
The warmth from her lips, and the scent of her remained with Winton like
a sensation wafted from the past.

Was there then nothing to be done--nothing? Men of his stamp do not, as
a general thing, see very deep even into those who are nearest to them;
but to-night he saw his daughter's nature more fully perhaps than ever
before. No use to importune her to act against her instincts--not a bit
of use! And yet--how to sit and watch it all--watch his own passion with
its ecstasy and its heart-burnings re-enacted with her--perhaps for many
years? And the old vulgar saying passed through his mind: "What's bred
in the bone will come out in the meat." Now she had given, she would
give with both hands--beyond measure--beyond!--as he himself, as her
mother had given! Ah, well, she was better off than his own loved one
had been. One must not go ahead of trouble, or cry over spilled milk!

VIII

Gyp had a wakeful night. The question she herself had raised, of telling
Fiorsen, kept her thoughts in turmoil. Was he likely to divorce her if
she did? His contempt for what he called 'these bourgeois morals,' his
instability, the very unpleasantness, and offence to his vanity--all this
would prevent him. No; he would not divorce her, she was sure, unless by
any chance he wanted legal freedom, and that was quite unlikely. What
then would be gained? Ease for her conscience? But had she any right to
ease her conscience if it brought harm to her lover? And was it not
ridiculous to think of conscience in regard to one who, within a year of
marriage, had taken to himself a mistress,