When the fever which had ensued abated, she described the whole scene in detail to Virginie and the nurse as an evil dream which she had had--and pitifully they let her continue in this belief.
Even Hugh himself had been compelled, under protest, to take part in this deception.

The doctor, a personal friend of his, had not minced matters.
"You've acted the part of an unmitigated coward, Vallincourt--salving your own fool conscience at your wife's expense.

Even if you no longer love her--" "But I do love her," protested Hugh.

"I--I _worship_ her!" Jim Lancaster stared.

In common with most medical men he was more or less used to the odd vagaries of human nature, but Hugh's attitude struck him as altogether incomprehensible.
"Then what in the name of thunder have you been getting at ?" he demanded.
"I both love and hate her," declared Hugh wretchedly.
"That's rot," retorted the other.