The Opposite House: A Novel — page 218: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Opposite Flouse. 213 Heloise, go. Whydo you cross my path again, if you merely wish to remind me of the hour that poisons my whole existence ?” There was a terrible accusation in the tone of his voice, and Heloise pressed her hand upon her heart with a bitter smile. “Poisons your whole existence?’ she repeated, with an indescribable look. “As if you were the only sufferer, Gerrald—a greater sufferer than the woman who wrecked her own happiness with yours, who is compelled to bear the double torture of the pangs of conscience and of desertion—abandoned alike by God and the world! Do you imagine, Ger- rald, that that night left notraces upon me—did not pour into my heart the venom [ sought to instill into yours? I have felt every word, every one of those sharp dagger-thrusts with two-fold keenness in my own heart, a heart that cannot forget that it once leved you! I have never wept during my gay life on the stage; never regretted any action; did not even know the bitter taste of tears. Now it seemed as if all the omissions were to be repaired—as if I were now to pass through all these hours of sorrow, hours which had once seemed so absurdly far away. I was to atone doubly for my former mockery. Every form of misery has been heaped upon me during this last year. Oh, God, what experiences I have had! What bitter, bitter want I have endured !”’ Comiclbookks C@ 5}