You
mayn't have been anything worse than a fool, and ye mayn't have been
even that.
Mrs. Tremaine.
Thank you. I was a fool, of course. You see, my first marriage was a
mistake altogether. It was my mother's doing. I knew nothing of
marriage, or love either, for that matter. That came afterwards,
and--all the scandal.
Miss Macfarlane.
And may I ask, young woman, have you run away from your second
husband? You say that marriage was a mistake too.
Mrs. Tremaine.
No; he is dead now.
Miss Macfarlane.
But you don't--(_Looks at her dress._)
Mrs. Tremaine.
No, I don't _afficher_ eternal bereavement. We were separated for
two years.
Mrs. Denham.
Poor Blanche! Then it was not a success?
Mrs. Tremaine.
No; it was not a success.
Miss Macfarlane.
Well, we mustn't ask why?
Mrs. Tremaine.
Oh, I'm in the humour for confession. I think you can understand. We
got on well enough while I was--free. But he did the chivalrous
thing--asked me to marry him; and I was glad enough to scramble back
to the platform of respectability.
Miss Macfarlane.
Well, I understand that, anyhow.
Mrs.
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