who had been hurt in her most sensitive
feelings. Slowly, deliberately, in tones that cut him like a knife,
she said:

"Last night you said that you had _bought and paid for me_!"

"But I've explained, haven't I?" he protested. "I've said that I'm
ashamed, and I've apologized. Can I do any more? You don't know how
nervous I am to-day--nor how I feel! I can't stand these rackets like
I used to. Be a dear, good, sweet, little girl and don't scold me.
Please dearie, please!"

"You said that you had _bought_ and _paid_ for me!" she
repeated icily, with emphasis on the last words.

"But, sweetheart--"

Bitterly she went on:

"It isn't the first time you have said it either. And the dreadful
thing about it is--that it's true!"

"But it isn't true," he protested.

She half turned away from him, unwilling that he should see the tears
that had started to her eyes.

"Yes--it is true enough," she said half hysterically. "If you hadn't
been rich--I should not have married you--because I didn't feel
towards you--then--as a girl should feel towards the man she is to
marry."

"Virginia!" he cried, making a stride forward.

She drew back as she replied coldly:

"You know it, and last night you told me of it."

"But last night--"

"And so the fact remains that you did buy me!" Pointing to the boxes
of jewels heaped high on the table, she went on: "And these are the
things you bought me with! These are the things you bought me with--I
give them all back to you!"

"Virginia!" he cried appealingly.

Calmly she went on:

"You bought me, but you didn't buy my self-respect. And no matter what
happens I am going to keep that."

"It's the last thing in the world that I'd have you lose," he said
with some show of emotion.

"Then why do you try to rob me of it? Why did you come to me--as you
did last night--and insult and degrade me?"

"I'm sorry, dear."

"So you have told me before! And I've cried--and suffered--and
forgiven you--and prayed that it would never happen again. And now,
dear, I'm not going to cry any more, and it won't happen again."

He looked at her inquiringly--almost apprehensively.

"You--mean?" he stammered. She sank into a chair a little distance
from him. The tears had disappeared from her eyes. She had recovered
her self-possession. It was only a matter of business which they had
to discuss now. Calmly she continued:

"I mean that we have got to have a definite and explicit
understanding.