He didn't blame John. That is to
say, he would not officially permit himself to blame John, though he
knew very well that he did blame him. A sense of the rights of other
people as opposed to one's own rights has been hardly gained by the
Race, and is by no means firmly seated yet. Let primitive passions
slip control for an instant and presto! good-bye to the rights of
other people! The primitive man in Spence would not have argued the
matter. Having obtained his mate by any means at all, it would have
gone hard with anyone who, however justly, attempted to take her
from him. Today, at Mrs. Burton-Jones' garden party, the acquired
restraints of character seemed wearing thin. The professor decided
that it might be advisable to go home.
Desire and Mary noticed his absence at about the same time. And both
lost interest in the party with the suddenness of a light blown out.
"Things are moving," thought Mary with a thrill of triumph. But in
spite of her triumph she was angry. It is not pleasant to have the
power of one's rival so starkly revealed. Malice crept into her
faun-like eyes as she looked across to where Desire sat, a composed
young figure, listening with apparent interest to the biggest bore
in Bainbridge. What right had she to hold a man's hot heart between
her placid hands! Mary ground her parasol into Mrs. Burton-Jones'
best sod and her small white teeth shut grindingly behind her lips.
Desire was trying to listen to the little man with the enlarged ego
who attempted to entertain her.
Pages:
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291