CHAPTER XLIII
關燈
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中
大
o.NomessagecamefromHenryperhapsheexpectedhertoapologise.Nowthatshehadtimetothinkoverherowntragedy,shewasunrepentant.Sheneitherforgavehimforhisbehaviournorwishedtoforgivehim.Herspeechtohimseemedperfect.Shewouldnothavealteredaword.Ithadtobeutteredonceinalife,toadjustthelopsidednessoftheworld.Itwasspokennotonlytoherhusband,buttothousandsofmenlikehim—aprotestagainsttheinnerdarknessinhighplacesthatcomeswithacommercialage.Thoughhewouldbuilduphislifewithouthers,shecouldnotapologise.Hehadrefusedtoconnect,ontheclearestissuethatcanbelaidbeforeaman,andtheirlovemusttaketheconsequences.
No,therewasnothingmoretobedone.Theyhadtriednottogoovertheprecipice,butperhapsthefallwasinevitable.Anditcomfortedhertothinkthatthefuturewascertainlyinevitablecauseandeffectwouldgojanglingforwardtosomegoaldoubtless,buttononethatshecouldimagine.Atsuchmomentsthesoulretireswithin,tofloatuponthebosomofadeeperstream,andhascommunionwiththedead,andseestheworld’sglorynotdiminished,butdifferentinkindtowhatshehassupposed.Shealtersherfocusuntiltrivialthingsareblurred.Margarethadbeentendingthiswayallthewinter.Leonard’sdeathbroughthertothegoal.Alas!thatHenryshouldfadeawayasrealityemerged,andonlyherloveforhimshouldremainclear,stampedwithhisimagelikethecameoswerescueoutofdreams.
Withunfalteringeyeshetracedhisfuture.Hewouldsoonpresentahealthymindtotheworldagain,andwhatdidheortheworldcareifhewasrottenatthecore?Hewouldgrowintoarich,jollyoldman,attimesalittlesentimentalaboutwomen,butemptyinghisglasswithanyone.Tenaciousofpower,hewouldkeepCharlesandtherestdependent,andretirefrombusinessreluctantlyandatanadvancedage.Hewouldsettledown—thoughshecouldnotrealisethis.Inhereye
