CONFIDENCE
thing. "It's because of all the talk—it's because of Gordon. You needn't be afraid of Gordon."
"Afraid of him? I don't know what you mean," said Bernard gravely.
Blanche gave a little laugh.
"You have discovered that people are talking about us—about you and me. I must say I wonder you care. I don't care, and if it's because of Gordon, you might as well know that he doesn't care. If he doesn't care, I don't see why I should; and if I don't, I don't see why you should!"
"You pay too much attention to such stupid stuff in even mentioning it."
"Well, if I have the credit of saying what I shouldn't—to you or to any one else—I don't see why I shouldn't have the advantage too. Gordon doesn't care—he doesn't care what I do or say. He doesn't care a pin for me!"
She spoke in her usual rattling gossiping voice, and brought out this declaration with a curious absence of resentment.
"You talk about advantage," said Bernard. "I don't see what advantage it is to you to say that."
"I want to—I must—I will! That's the advantage!" This came out with a sudden sharpness of tone; she spoke more excitedly. "He doesn't care a button for me, and he never did! I don't know what he married me for. He cares for something else—he thinks of something else. I don't know what it is—I suppose it's chemistry!"
These words gave Bernard a certain shock, but he had his intelligence sufficiently in hand to contradict them with energy.
"You labour under a monstrous delusion!" he exclaimed. "Your husband thinks you fascinating."
This epithet, pronounced with a fine distinctness,
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