Part 42 (2/2)
”In my eyes you are beautiful,” he replied
”No blarney, if you please,” she said ”I don't love you, and that is a fact, Mr Cairns But I will think of you--and perhaps--that is, if you don't find someone else in the meantime--when I come back----”
”How soon will that be?” he asked
”A roaned; ”an eternity to wait I will give you three months to think about it; then I will coain”
”And ill Mother Superioress say toman?”
”Oh, blow--I mean, never htfully human, and as sympathetic as you are,” replied Cairns
”Sympathetic? Sure, you must be in love to believe that ofbox of chocolates Will you now?”
”I intend to bring a ring with me What stones do you like best?”
”E yourthe veil myself”
”If you do I shall destroy myself,” said Cairns
”Would you do that for erly ”Hoould you do it?”
”Oh, poison, or possibly a razor But there will be no need for that”
”And do you really love me--me, Molly Healy? I don't understand it I am plain and untidy, with never an accomplishment to my name If I had money I could see a reason for it Why do you love me?” she asked
”Because you are Molly Healy, cheerful, light-hearted and kind,” he answered
”I intend to think of you all night and every night I can't think of you and be neglecting the day's work But, perhaps, after threeNow be off with you, for I am busy You may kiss my hand, and here is a rose for you Good-bye, Mr
Cairns, for three months Sure, I will miss you”
To Kathleen O'Connor Molly confided Cairns' proposal
”I don't understand it,” she sighed ”If it had been you, Kathleen, I would not have wondered, for you are as beautiful as I a beyond irl for her hair?”
”If I were a man I would marry no other woman but Molly Healy Plain!
Why, you are lovely, and you have a heart of gold, Molly,” Kathleen answered
”Mr Cairns could not see my heart; it is what a man sees that he loves
But I am perplexed what to do I like Mr Cairns, and he is an honest gentleman, not like Gerard, all on the surface But I don't fancy I love him What does it feel like to be in love, Kathleen?”