I. A. R. Wylie

“ The dusk had deepened to twilight when he left her. Lights had sprung up, marking the square through the branches of the trees; and here and there a window shone dully, as if at this hour a hidden, shrinking life had begun to stir. Oscar Delisle stood on the steps of the house, hesitating. ”

“ I'm a man and she's a woman, and my wife, and we will face this together. That is our duty. A man shields his wife while he can. There comes a time when they have to stand shoulder to shoulder.”
Delisle nodded.
“You may be right. You may be justified in bringing down ruin and shame and unhappiness on one who has sworn to share the best and the worst with you. But there is one thing that nothing justifies—the ruining of an innocent third.” ”

“ He drew himself up, facing her with a resolution that was defiant and almost antagonistic. “If you love Fenton, you will give his son a chance in life,” he added. “I was Fenton's friend. Can you trust me?”
“I do trust you. But if I told you that—that I was selling myself for Fenton's sake——”
“I'd sell my soul for you,” he stammered back.
She shrank from that first betrayal of unbridled passion, and in an instant he had regained his self-control.
“Forgive me. I have been sorely tried, Eileen. Remember, I love you. To wait is easy, but to stand by helpless and see you suffer is unbearable. ”