A Social Meteor — page 172: what you’re looking at

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162 A SOCIAL METEOR. realized. He felt crushed and pained beyond ex- pression, yet even at this time his own grief was swallowed up in pity for her. “I know you are, my dearest,” he answered, “T knew it all the evening. I could see it in your face even while you were laughing and talking. It was an awful strain on your nerves, wasn’t it? You must have suffered tortures. I watched you all the time, expecting to see you break down, but you were so brave through it all.” “Oh, Lee,” she repeated, piteously, “forgive me, but you don’t understand—I am so wretched, so miserable. I thought it was all over, and that he couldn’t hurt me any more, and now,” choking down a sob, “I feel as if my heart is broken. Yes, itis, Lee. What have I done that I should be made to suffer so? And all through her, too, the woman I trusted and loved. It’s too cruel!” “My dear girl, I do understand, and I sympa- thize with you from my heart. But when you have lived as many years as I have, you'll find | that itis our best friends who can hurt us the most, and who often seem to take the greatest delight in doing it.” “But how could she, under my very eyes, when I asked her; I told her ” Eomicbooks, co