Part 104 (2/2)
”I've had shocking luck. I mean with regard to you,” he continued.
Mavis making no reply to this remark, he went on:
”But what I can't understand is, why you ran away that night when I got you out of Mrs Hamilton's.”
”I escaped in the fog.”
”But why? Why? Little Mavis! little Mavis! these things are much too sacred to play the fool with.”
”I ran away out of consideration for you.”
”Eh?”
”Why else should I? I didn't want you to burden your life with a n.o.body like me.”
”Are you serious?”
She laughed bitterly.
”Well, I'm hanged!” he cried.
”It's no use worrying now.”
”One can't altogether help it. Why hadn't you a better sense of your value? I'd have married you; I'd have lived for you, and I swear I'd have made you happy.”
”I know you would,” she a.s.sented.
”And now I find you like this.”
”I'll be going back now.”
”I'll turn with you if I may.”
”You'll be late.”
”I'll chance that,” he laughed. ”Months before I met you at Mrs Hamilton's, I heard about you from Devitt.”
”What did he say?”
”It was just before you were going down to see him, from some school you were at, about taking a governess's billet. He told me of this, and I sent you a message.”
”I never had it.”
”Not really?”
”A fact. What was it?”
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