She answered just:
"It means that Mr Brand will be able to marry again."
Nancy said:
"But . . . but . . ." and then: "He will be able to marry Miss Lupton."
Leonora just moved a hand in assent. Her eyes were shut.
"Then . . ." Nancy began. Her blue eyes were full of horror: her
brows were tight above them; the lines of pain about her mouth
were very distinct. In her eyes the whole of that familiar, great
hall had a changed aspect. The andirons with the brass flowers at
the ends appeared unreal; the burning logs were just logs that
were burning and not the comfortable symbols of an indestructible
mode of life. The flame fluttered before the high fireback; the St
Bernard sighed in his sleep. Outside the winter rain fell and fell.
And suddenly she thought that Edward might marry some one else;
and she nearly screamed.
Leonora opened her eyes, lying sideways, with her face upon the
black and gold pillow of the sofa that was drawn half across the
great fireplace.
"I thought," Nancy said, "I never imagined. . . . Aren't marriages
sacraments? Aren't they indissoluble? I thought you were married .
. . and . . ." She was sobbing. "I thought you were married or not
married as you are alive or dead.
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