Part 14 (1/2)

”Why?” asked Ronald, innocently. ”You know I would come from the end of the world to see you. I have, in fact.”

”Yes, I know,” said Joe wearily, wis.h.i.+ng she knew exactly how to say what she was so thoroughly determined should be said.

”What is the matter, Joe?” asked Ronald, suddenly. He smiled rather nervously, but his smooth brow was a little contracted. He antic.i.p.ated mischief.

”There is something the matter, Ronald,” she said at last, resolved to make short work of the revelation of her feelings. ”There is something very much the matter.”

”Well?” said Surbiton, beginning to be alarmed.

”You know, Ronald dear, somehow I think you have thought--honestly, I know you have thought for a long time that you were to marry me.”

”Yes,” said Ronald with a forced laugh, for he was frightened. ”I have always thought so; I think so now.”

”It is of no use to think it, Ronald dear,” said Joe, turning very pale.

”I have thought of it too--thought it all over. I cannot possibly marry you, dear boy. Honestly, I cannot.” Her voice trembled violently. However firmly she had decided within herself, it was a very bitter thing to say; she was so fond of him.

”What?” asked Ronald hoa.r.s.ely. But he turned red instead of pale. It was rather disappointment and anger that he felt at the first shock than sorrow or deep pain.

”Do not make me say it again,” said Joe, entreatingly. She was not used to entreating so much as to commanding, and her voice quavered uncertainly.

”Do you mean to say,” said Ronald, speaking loudly in his anger, and then dropping his voice as he remembered the pa.s.sers-by,--”do you mean to tell me, Joe, after all this, when I have come to America just because you told me to, that you will not marry me? I do not believe it. You are making fun of me.”

”No, Ronald,” Joe answered sorrowfully, but regaining her equanimity in the face of Surbiton's wrath, ”I am in earnest. I am very, very fond of you, but I do not love you at all, and I never can marry you.”

Ronald was red in the face, and he trod fast and angrily, tapping the pavement with his stick. He was very angry, but he said nothing.

”It is much better to be honest about it,” said Joe, still very pale; and when she had spoken, her little mouth closed tightly.

”Oh, yes,” said Ronald, who was serious by this time; ”it is much better to be honest, now that you have brought me three thousand miles to hear what you have to say--much better. By all means.”

”I am very sorry, Ronald,” Joe answered. ”I really did not mean you to come, and I am very sorry,--oh, more sorry than I can tell you,--but I cannot do it, you know.”

”If you won't, of course you can't,” he said. ”Will you please tell me who he is?”

”Who?--what?” asked Joe, coldly. She was offended at the tone.

”The fellow you have pitched upon in my place,” he said roughly.

Joe looked up into his face with an expression that frightened him. Her dark eyes flashed with an honest fire, He stared angrily at her as they walked slowly along.

”I made a mistake,” she said slowly. ”I am not sorry. I am glad. I would be ashamed to marry a man who could speak like that to any woman. I am sorry for you, but I am glad for myself.” She looked straight into his eyes, until he turned away. For some minutes they went on in silence.

”I beg your pardon, Joe,” said Ronald presently, in a subdued tone.

”Never mind, Ronald dear, I was angry,” Joe answered. But her eyes were full of tears, and her lips quivered.

Again they went on in silence, but for a longer time than before. Joe felt that the blow was struck, and there was nothing to be done but to wait the result. It had been much harder than she had expected, because Ronald was so angry; she had expected he would be pained. He, poor fellow, was really startled out of all self-control. The idea that Joe could ever ultimately hesitate about marrying him had never seemed to exist, even among the remotest possibilities. But he was a gentleman in his way, and so he begged her pardon, and chewed the cud of his wrath in silence for some time.

”Joe,” he said at last, with something of his usual calm, though he was still red, ”of course you are really perfectly serious? I mean, you have thought about it?”

”Yes,” said Joe; ”I am quite sure.”