Sons and Lovers - Daimon Club

had flattered him, and despised him. She despised him now.
He grew intellectual and cruel.
"You ought to marry a man who worships you," he said; "then you
could do as you liked with him. Plenty of men will worship you,
if you get on the private side of their natures. You ought to marry
one such. They would never fight you off."
"Thank you!" she said. "But don't advise me to marry someone
else any more. You've done it before."
"Very well," he said; "I will say no more."
He sat still, feeling as if he had had a blow, instead of
giving one. Their eight years of friendship and love, THE eight
years of his life, were nullified.
"When did you think of this?" she asked.
"I thought definitely on Thursday night."
"I knew it was coming," she said.
That pleased him bitterly. "Oh, very well! If she knew then
it doesn't come as a surprise to her," he thought.
"And have you said anything to Clara?" she asked.
"No; but I shall tell her now."
There was a silence.
"Do you remember the things you said this time last year,
in my grandmother's house--nay last month even?"
"Yes," he said; "I do! And I meant them! I can't help
that it's failed."
"It has failed because you want something else."
"It would have failed whether or not. YOU never believed
in me."
She laughed strangely.