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Chapter XII. The Last Link
Iamgladithasallendedsohappily.EvenJohnandhiswifearereconciled.”
“Thankstome.”
“Howdoyoumean—thankstoyou?”
“Mydearfriend,doyounotrealizethatitwassimplyandsolelythetrialwhichhasbroughtthemtogetheragain?ThatJohnCavendishstilllovedhiswife,Iwasconvinced.Also,thatshewasequallyinlovewithhim.Buttheyhaddriftedveryfarapart.Itallarosefromamisunderstanding.Shemarriedhimwithoutlove.Heknewit.Heisasensitivemaninhisway,hewouldnotforcehimselfuponherifshedidnotwanthim.And,ashewithdrew,herloveawoke.Buttheyarebothunusuallyproud,andtheirprideheldtheminexorablyapart.HedriftedintoanentanglementwithMrs.Raikes,andshedeliberatelycultivatedthefriendshipofDr.Bauerstein.DoyourememberthedayofJohnCavendish’sarrest,whenyoufoundmedeliberatingoverabigdecision?”
“Yes,Iquiteunderstoodyourdistress.”
“Pardonme,monami,butyoudidnotunderstanditintheleast.IwastryingtodecidewhetherornotIwouldclearJohnCavendishatonce.Icouldhaveclearedhim—thoughitmighthavemeantafailuretoconvicttherealcriminals.Theywereentirelyinthedarkastomyrealattitudeuptotheverylastmoment—whichpartlyaccountsformysuccess.”
“DoyoumeanthatyoucouldhavesavedJohnCavendishfrombeingbroughttotrial?”
“Yes,myfriend.ButIeventuallydecidedinfavourof‘awoman’shappiness’.Nothingbutthegreatdangerthroughwhichtheyhavepassedcouldhavebroughtthesetwoproudsoulstogetheragain.
