She merely stared at him in horror.
"Well, there is your erstwhile friend, Sibyl Geary. She fell in love
with another man, her husband was a sot, she got her divorce without
legal opposition, and married Forbes--finest kind of fellow."
"Divorce is against the canons of Church and Society. No woman
should break her solemn vows, no matter what her provocation. Look at
Maria Groome. Do you think she would divorce Alexander? She has
provocation enough."
"You are both High Church, but all women are not. Mrs. Geary is a
mere Presbyterian. And at least she is as happy as she was wretched
before."
"No woman can be happy who has lost the respect of Society."
"I thought you were bored with Society."
"Yes, but it is mine to have. Being bored is quite different from
being cast out like a pariah."
"Oh! And you think love a poor substitute?"
"Love, of course, is the most wonderful thing in the world. (She
might be talking of maternal or filial love, thought Masters.) But it
must have the sanction of one's principles, one's creed and one's
traditions. Otherwise, it weighs nothing in the balance."
"You are a delectable little Puritan," said Masters with a laugh
that was not wholly mirthful. "I shall now read you Tennyson's
'Maud,' as you approve of sentiment, at least.
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