Part 35 (1/2)
”And I don't count at all After all our love, you could forget et you, sweetheart”
”But--you're willing to _try_?”
”What else can I do? Oh, what a muddle I've made of our lives!”
Eric had determined to be patient and restrained; but his voice, uncontrolled and scornful, seemed to come fro faith with Jack and breaking it with ive yourself, you'll never forget the wrong you've done me, if you marry any one else!”
Barbara's eyes filled with fear
”You speak as if you were putting a curse on s or luck or your other superstitions I' you--and I'll add this You once undertookabout love: it has to be whole-hearted”
He flung away and stood with his arar-cabinet with cluers Barbara made no sound, and after some moments he stole a look at her
”I know,” she answered quietly
”Well----” He hesitated and then took his plunge ”You've got to decide, Babs”
”Youdefinite”
”No! If we heard to-ht, in five minutes' time, it would make no difference I want the whole of your love, I want to stand first” He waited, but she said nothing ”You've very often told me how much you loved me,” he went on, ironical at her silence ”You've told rateful you are to me, how much you want to make me happy----”
He had dropped into unconscious parody, and its technical excellence set her writhing
”_Don't_, Eric! _Please!_”
”You must decide, Babs”
”_No!_”
She buried her face in her hands and sobbed so wildly that he expected at any moment to see his maid's head at the door For a while he was stoically unave him a pain at the heart, and he stepped forward, only to pull up before he threay his victory
”Eric, _don't_,” she cried, as soon as she had mastery of her voice
”You must decide,” he repeated
”And if I say 'no'?”
”I've said you were under no obligation to me”
”But--you'll turn ed my mind----”