Paul had long promised to marry Clara. But
at thirty-three he met and married Alice. Clara was driven mad.
Paul was taken to court. The judge ordered him to pay Clara $600 because of the
broken promise. Paul had to borrow the money from a moneylender. He agreed to
pay back $5 a month—for twenty years. His wages at the time were $16 a
month. Paul and Alice were poor but not unhappy. They had
little enough food, certainly, even before the children began to arrive. Each
month Paul paid $5 to the moneylender. He worked hard, never taking a holiday.
In time, there were seven mouths to feed. Illness was always
with them. It grew serious when the oldest child was eight. The years of hunger
weakened the family, because each month Paul paid $5. The details of the
sickness were ugly, but the result was this: after twelve years of family life,
Paul was alone in the world. He lived alone except for
memories. Work was not now a god for him: it was a painkiller. Each month he
paid, and in time the twenty years ended. From that moment his wages were his
own. One day, it was a holiday went to the seaside. He sat down
on a seat by the sea. A middle-aged woman came and sat down near him. They
recognized each other at once. The woman said, "The $600 has
been in the bank since the day it was paid to me. It is now $6,000, and I have
kept it for you. Will you let me share it with you?" "No," said
Paul, gently. "Each thousand is a lost life in a desert between us. It can never
bring any happiness."
单选题
Paul was ordered to pay Clara $600 because ______.