Violet Jacob > Flemington

122
FLEMINGTON
the processes of nature. What process of nature
could make his agony innocuous ? The word
* treachery ’ had become a nightmare to him, and
on every side he was fated to hear it.
Its full meaning had only been brought home
to him two days ago, and now the hateful thing
was being pressed on him by one who had
suffered from it bitterly. What could he say to
her ? How was he to make her see as he saw ?
His difficulty was a sentimental one, and one that
she would not recognize.
Archie was not logical. He had still not much
feeling about having deceived Lord Balnillo,
whose hospitality he had accepted and enjoyed,
but, as he had said, he could not go “man-hunt¬
ing” after James, who had offered him a brother’s
help, whose heart he had seen, whose life had
already been cut in two by the baneful thing.
There was little room in Archie’s soul for
anything but the shadow of that nightmare of
treachery, and the shadow was creeping towards
him. Had his mother been a grand-duchess of
spotless reputation, what could her virtue or her
blue blood avail him in his present distress ? She
was nothing to him, that “ slut ” who had brought
him forth; he owed her no allegiance, bore her
no grudge. The living woman to whom he owed
all stood before him beloved, admired, cutting
him to the heart.
He assented silently; but Christian understood
that, though he looked as if she had carried her
point, his looks were the only really unreliable part