Part 52 (1/2)
Said she one day, quietly, though with a deep blush: ”Do you know Mr.
Arthur Wardlaw?”
Hazel gave a s.h.i.+ver, and said, ”I do.”
”Do you know anything about him?”
”I do.”
”Nothing to his discredit, I am sure.”
”If you are sure, why ask me? Do I ever mention his name?”
”Perhaps you do, sometimes, without intending it.”
”You are mistaken. He is in your thoughts, no doubt; but not in mine.”
”Ought I to forget people entirely, and what I owe them?”
”That is a question I decline to go into.”
”How harshly you speak to me. Is that fair? You know my engagement, and that honor and duty draw me to England; yet I am happy here. You, who are so good and strong, might pity me at least; for I am torn this way and that.” And here the voice ceased and the tears began to flow.
”I do pity you,” said Hazel. ”I must pity any one who is obliged to mention honor and duty in the same breath as Arthur Wardlaw.”
At this time Helen drew back, offended bitterly. _”That_ pity I reject and scorn,” said she. ”No, I plighted my faith with my eyes open, and to a worthy object. I never knew him blacken any person who was not there to speak for himself, and that is a very worthy trait, in my opinion. The absent are like children; they are helpless to defend themselves.”
Hazel racked with jealousy, and irritated at this galling comparison, lost his temper for once, and said those who lay traps must not complain if others fall into them.
”Traps! Who lay them?”
”You did, Miss Rolleston. Did I ever condescend to mention that man's name since we have been on the island? It is you make me talk of him.”
”Condescend?”
”That is the word. Nor will I ever deign to mention him again. If my love had touched your heart, I should have been obliged to mention him, for then I should have been bound to tell you a story in which he is mixed, my own miserable story--my blood boils against the human race when I think of it. But no, I see I am nothing to you; and I will be silent.”
”It is very cruel of you to say that,” replied Helen, with tears in her eyes; ”tell me your story, and you will see whether you are nothing to me.”
”Not one word of it,” said Hazel slowly, ”until you have forgotten that man exists.”
”Oh! thank you, sir, this is plain speaking. I am to forget honor and plighted faith; and then you will trust me with your secrets, when I have shown myself unworthy to be trusted with anything. Keep your secrets, and I'll try and keep faith; ay, and I shall keep it, too, as long as there's life in my body.”
”Can't you keep faith without torturing me, who love you?”
Helen's bosom began to heave at this, but she fought bravely. ”Love me less, and respect me more,” said she, panting; ”you affront me, you frighten me. I looked on you as a brother, a dear brother. But now I am afraid of you-- I am afraid.”
He was so injudicious as to interrupt her, instead of giving her time to contradict herself. ”You have nothing to fear,” said he; ”keep this side of the island, and I'll live on the other, rather than hear the name of Arthur Wardlaw.”
Helen's courage failed her at that spirited proposal, and she made no reply at all, but turned her back haughtily, and went away from him, only, when she had got a little way, her proud head drooped, and she went crying.