To please me she promised not to marry till I gave her
leave. I was not in a marrying way myself, but it was damnation to think
of another man possessing her. To spare my sensibilities, she promised
to turn off her prince, and the idea of her doing so made me as happy as
to see a perfect statue shaping itself in the block. You have seen how
she kept her promise! When I learned it, it was as if the statue had
suddenly cracked and turned hideous. She died for me, like that!" And
he snapped his fingers. "Was it wounded vanity, disappointed desire,
betrayed confidence? I am sure I don't know; you certainly have some
name for it."
"The poor girl did the best she could," said Rowland.
"If that was her best, so much the worse for her! I have hardly thought
of her these two months, but I have not forgiven her."
"Well, you may believe that you are avenged. I can't think of her as
happy."
"I don't pity her!" said Roderick. Then he relapsed into silence, and
the two sat watching the colossal figure as it made its way downward
along the jagged silhouette of the rocks. "Who is this mighty man,"
cried Roderick at last, "and what is he coming down upon us for? We are
small people here, and we can't undertake to keep company with giants.
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