John Paget a Novel

ceased to be my brother, and his children had none of my blood in their veins. Nothing but the circumstance of their being twins would have let you turn to me for help. You are quite right. Alice did not want me To put it gently, Alice did not care for me and yet, I might have helped her in all these months of her illness. She had everything that was necessary. Alice had been accustomed to luxuries. The war had cured us of luxuriousness. And my Northern money could not have been digested Some of Alices Northern friends were very kind to her. It was only my money then and you declined it. Alice loved money she would have taken it. You are angry Pardon me, but I never believed in my brother Johns wife. Did John bear me ill will to the last, Carter We never spoke of you. Do you think he bore me ilI will You caused him the greatest sorrow of his life. If my marriage was all his sorrow, my brother was fortunate. Am I a disgrace because I mar-I ried a Northern inan on the eve of the war Nonsense And you did no more than that, Claudia In the letter-no. In the spirit- looking up at the man who had crossed the room and now stood close beside her. In the spirit, how was it, dear Her look faltered. It was the thrill in his voice, maybe, or the dear of old days that made things about her seem to waver. I hurt you, Carter-you And I- She stopped and turned her face aside. Carter waited. The soft curve of the cheek was so near him and she had been his once-this woman. The bitterness of years overwhelmed him suddenly, and he cried And you-what cnlz you say bending to 1001 in her eyes. The old love his tenderness had wakened, turned and stung itself to death. Moving a little she answered, I was wise. And happy Made happy by your exceeding wisdom Not perfectly-not as happy as I expected to be, perhaps, but happier than I should have been under any other circumstances. For a moment they stood looking hard at each other then Carter went away. The room in which Claudia was left was large J and well proportioned but the walls were defaced, the floors were bare and charred in places, as if fires had been built elsewhere than in the broad fireplace, and the wainscoting was battered and hacked. The furniture it contained was heavily carved, and on the table, wher lunch had been served for one, and where the remnantsstill stood, were odd pieces of exquisite china. In front of the hearth there was a square of worn Turkey carpet the faded curtains that draped the windows were of silk damask, and the pitchers and bowls that stood on the mutilated sideboard were of heavy beaten silver. Outside there were further marlts of past . wealth. The side windows, opening down to a 4 JOHN PAGE T... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.