Page 208 - The snake's pass

196 the snake's pass.
" Art," said he, " I wanted to tell you something,
and I thought it ought to be told now. I would'nt like
the night to close on any wrong impression between
you and me. I hope you feel that my suspicion about
fair* play and the rest of it is all gone."
"I do ! old fellow ! quite."
" Well, you are not to get thinking of me as in any
way wronged in the matter, either by accident or design.
I have been going over the whole matter to try and get
the heart of the mystery ; and I think it only fair to say
that no wrong could be done to me. I never spoke a
single word to Norah in my life. Nor did she to me.
Indeed, I have seen her but seldom, though the first
time was enough to finish me. Thank G-od ! we have
found out the true state of affairs before it was too late.
It might have been worse, old lad ! it might have been
worse ! I don't think there's any record—even in the
novels—of a man's life being wrecked over a girl he
did'nt know. We don't get hit to death at sight,
old boy ! It's only skin deep this time, and though skin
deep hurts the most, it doesn't kill ! I thought I would
tell you what I had worked out, for I knew we were such
old friends that it would worry you and mar your happi-
ness to think I was wretched. I hope—and I honestly
expect—that by to-morrow I shall be all right, and able
to enjoy the sight of both your happiness—as, please
God! I hope such is to be."
We wrung each other's hands ; and I believe that
from that moment we were closer friends than ever.