Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Part two - VI
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“But the picture of your wife in red is impressionistic,
excellent. The more I look at it, the more I like it.”
“Yes, but that is a solitary instance.” After a pause
“When I painted it, she was all the world to me. I was
very much in love with her — and I hated her intensely
already.”
“Was it because of her you gave up painting?” asked Jenny.
“No. All our misfortunes are of our own making. I know
you have not what they call faith, neither have I — but I
believe in a God, if you like, or a spiritual power which punishes
justly.
“She was cashier in a shop in the High Street; I happened
to see her there. She was remarkably pretty, as you can see
still. One evening when she went home I waited for her and
spoke to her. We made friends — and I seduced her,” he said
in a low and harsh voice.
“And you married her because she was going to have a
child? — I thought so. For twenty-seven years she has
tormented you in return. Do you know what I think of the deity
you believe in? — that it is rather relentless.”
He smiled wearily. “I am not quite so old-fashioned as you
may think. I don’t consider it a sin if two young people, who
love and believe in one another, join their lives in a lawful or
unlawful way. But in my case I was the abductor. She was
innocent when I met her — innocent in every way. I
understood her better than she did herself. I saw that she was
passionate, and would be jealous and tyrannical in her love, but I
did not care. I was flattered that her passion was for me,
that this beautiful girl was all mine, but I never meant to be
hers alone, the way I knew she wanted it. I did not exactly
mean to leave her, but I thought I should be able to arrange
our life in such a way as not to share with her my interests, my
work, my real life in fact, as I knew she would want to do. It
was stupid of me, knowing that I was weak and she strong and
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