Part 101 (1/2)
”Yes, of course. Naturally I will not show it. But I shall have to say that you warned me to drop him.”
”I can't have my name mentioned to that man,” said Lady Sellingworth desperately.
”And I can't drop him without telling him why.”
”Beryl, you haven't read to the end of my letter.”
”But I have!”
”Then have you forgotten it? Look! I wrote in it that I don't think he will ask for your reason if you refuse to see him again.”
”That only proves how little you know about him. I shall not do it, Adela. You are not very frank with me, but I am sincere with you. Either you must give me an explanation of your reason for writing this letter, or you must give me permission to tell Mr. Arabian of your warning, or--if you won't do either the one or the other--I shall take no action because of this letter. I shall behave as if I had never received it and read it.”
”Beryl! What reason could I have for writing as I have written if I had nothing against this man?”
”I don't know. It is very difficult to understand the reasons women have for doing what they do. But I have come here to ask you what your reason is. That's why I am here now.”
”Could I have a bad reason, a selfish reason?”
”How can I tell?”
”Then have you a bad opinion of me, of my character?”
”I have always admired you very much. You know that.”
”Once--once you called me a book of wisdom.”
”Did I?”
”Don't you remember?”
”I dare say I did.”
”And I think you meant of worldly wisdom. Then can't you, won't you, trust my opinion of this man?”
”Oh if it's only your opinion!”
”But it is not. It is knowledge.”
”Then you know Mr. Arabian?”
”I didn't say that.”
”Do you know him?”
Lady Sellingworth turned away for a moment. She stood with her back to Miss Van Tuyn and her face towards the fire, holding the mantelpiece with her right hand. Miss Van Tuyn, motionless, stared at her tall figure. She felt this was a real battle between herself and her friend, or enemy. She was determined to win it somehow. She still had a weapon in reserve, the weapon she had thought of just now when she had resolutely put away her fear of Arabian. But perhaps she would not be forced to use it, perhaps she could overcome Adela's extraordinary resistance without it. As she looked at the woman turned from her she began to think that might be possible. Adela was surely weakening. This pause, this sudden moving away, this long hesitation suggested weakness.
At last Lady Sellingworth turned round.
”You ask me whether I know that man.”