He laughed again, and put his lips close to her ear, saying softly, tenderly—­ah! how tenderly: 

“Upon my honor as a gentleman, I solemnly swear that I love but one woman; that I love her as no other woman ever was loved; with a love that passes all language; a love that is the only light and hope of a wrecked, cursed, unutterably miserable life; and that idol which I have set up in the lonely gray ruins of my heart is Edna Earl!”

“I do not believe you!  You have no honor!  With the touch of Gertrude’s lips and arms still on yours, you come to me and dare to perjure yourself!  Oh, Mr. Murray!  Mr. Murray!  I did not believe you capable of such despicable dissimulation!  In the catalogue of your sins, I never counted deceit.  I thought you too proud to play the hypocrite.  If you could realize how I loathe and abhor you, you would get out of my sight!  You would not waste time in words that sink you deeper and deeper in shameful duplicity.  Poor Gertrude!  How entirely you mistake your lover’s character!  How your love will change to scorn and detestation!”

In vain she endeavored to wrench away his arm, a band of steel would have been as flexible; but St. Elmo’s voice hardened, and Edna felt his heart throb fiercely against her cheek as he answered: 

“When you are my wife you will repent your rash words, and blush at the remembrance of having told your husband that he was devoid of honor.  You are piqued and jealous, just as I intended you should be; but, darling, I am not a patient man, and it frets me to feel you struggling so desperately in the arms that henceforth will always enfold you.  Be quiet and hear me, for I have much to tell you.  Don’t turn your face away from mine, your lips belong to me.  I never kissed Gertrude in my life, and so help me God, I never will!  Hear—­ "

“No!  I will hear nothing!  Your touch is profanation.  I would sooner go down into my grave, out there in the churchyard, under the granite slabs, than become the wife of a man so unprincipled.  I am neither piqued nor jealous, for your affairs cannot affect my life; I am only astonished and mortified and grieved.  I would sooner feel the coil of a serpent around my waist than your arms.”

Instantly they fell away.  He crossed them on his chest, and his voice sank to a husky whisper, as the wind hushes itself just before the storm breaks.

“Edna, God is my witness that I am not deceiving you; that my words come from the great troubled depths of a wretched heart.  You said you knew nothing of my history.  I find it more difficult to believe you than you to credit my declarations.  Answer one question:  Has not your pastor taught you to distrust me?  Can it be possible that no hint of the past has fallen from his lips?”

“Not one unkind word, not one syllable of your history has he uttered.  I know no more of your past than if it were buried in mid-ocean.”

Mr. Murray placed her in one of the cushioned chairs designed for the use of the choir, and leaning back against the railing of the gallery, fixed his eyes on Edna’s face.