Suddenly she caught him up in her arms, and kissed him
passionately. 'Not even for your sake, dearest Dandy, can I bear with it
any longer! We are all very selfish, and it is selfish of me to leave you,
but I cannot help it.' Then a doubt crossed her mind, and she raised her
head and listened to it. It seemed difficult to believe that he had told
her a falsehood--cruel, wicked falsehood--he who had been so kind. And
yet---- Ah! yes, she knew well enough that it was all true; something told
her so. The lancinating pain of doubt passed away, and she remained
thinking of the impossibility of bearing any longer with the life.
An hour passed, and the servant came with the news that Mr. Price and Mrs.
Bentley had gone to London; they had taken the half-past five train. 'Yes,'
she said, 'I know they have.' Her voice was calm. There was a strange
hollow ring in it, and the servant wondered. A few minutes after, dinner
was announced; and to escape observation and comment she went into the
dining-room, tasted the soup, and took a slice of mutton on her plate. She
could not eat it. She gave it to Dandy. It was the last time she should
feed him. How hungry he was! She hoped he would not care to eat it; he
would not if he knew she was going to leave him.
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