"If this were Austria, instead of Amerika, you would not
forget. In Austria people of your class do not speak in
this manner to those of my caste."
"Unsinn!" laughed Konrad Nirlanger. This is
Amerika."
"Yes," said Anna Nirlanger, "this is Amerika. And in
Amerika all things are different. I see now that my
people knew of what they spoke when they called me mad to
think of wedding a clod of the people, such as you."
For a moment I thought that he was going to strike
her. I think he would have, if she had flinched. But
she did not. Her head was held high, and her eyes did
not waver.
"I married you for love. It is most comical, is it
not? With you I thought I should find peace, and
happiness and a re-birth of the intellect that was being
smothered in the splendor and artificiality and the
restrictions of my life there. Well, I was wrong. But
wrong. Now hear me!" Her voice was
tense with passion. "There will be gowns--as many and as
rich as I choose. You have said many times that the
ladies of Amerika you admire. And see! I shall be also
one of those so-admired ladies. My money shall go for
gowns! For hats! For trifles of lace and velvet and
fur! You shall learn that it is not a peasant woman whom
you have married.
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