ermined to keep my temper.

"We are getting to this," said he, "that if a year from today, you and
Lucy still love each other, and have been faithful to each other, and
still want each other--you shall have each other."

"A year?" I think he smiled at the surprise and disappointment in my
voice.

"During which year," he said, "you will not meet each other except by
accident, and you will not correspond."

I said nothing, but he read my thoughts.

"It isn't fair to you and Lucy? At least it is fair to me. Nobody has
thought about me. I have had to think for myself, and for the
children. Admit this--if your love stands a year's test you will stand
a far greater chance of happiness than if you ran away together now,
unblessed by the man you had wronged, and unclergied. Admit this,
too--that if your love doesn't stand the test, then my life has been
ruined for as futile, puerile, misbegotten a passion as ever reared its
head under an honest man's roof. Admit it! Admit it."

"I'm not sure that I admit any such thing."

"Then, my dear fellow," he said, "your mental and moral capacity are on
precisely the same plane. . . . I'm sure you don't want to injure
Lucy. Give her this chance to straighten out and get untangled. If
there is any truth in your love for her you will see that this way is
best for her."

"I am thinking of her happiness."

"_Are_ you?"

"She's been very patient, John. I can't tell you how patient."

"For God's sake don't try to tell me. Haven't I had enough to bear?"

"I think Lucy won't be willing to wait a year."

"She must be made willing. You must help. A year soon passes--soon
passes. If things then are as they are now, then I shall believe that
your love for each other is strong and fine, and I shall renounce my
claim with a good grace--a good grace."

"If we can't wait a year, John!"

"You mean if you won't? In that case I shall not feel that Lucy is
entitled to a divorce, or either of you to any money at my hands.
Among the people who are necessary to you and Lucy, a wronged and
upright husband has great power. If you are such children, such fools,
as not to be willing to stand a test of your love, you will have to be
punished. It would mean that your passion has nothing to do with what
is understood by love. You would merely be pointed at and passed up as
a rather well-known young couple with adulterous proclivities."

There was a long, charged silence.

"The