Part 31 (1/2)
He took up his hat, which lay on a chair, and smoothed it mechanically with his coat-sleeve.
The action seemed to pierce her like a knife, for she started, and half-extended her hand. ”Don't!” she exclaimed. ”At least, wait one moment. So you belong to the second cla.s.s of men.”
”What do you mean?”
”Men are divided into two cla.s.ses--those who refuse to be refused, and those who accept. But don't be too--too swift in your acceptance. After all, a refusal is not exactly a bank-note.”
She tried to smile.
”But I am exactly a beggar,” he answered, still keeping the hat in his hand. ”And if you have nothing to give me, I may as well go.”
”And spend the rest of your life in sweeping the old crossing?”
”And spend the rest of my life as I can,” he said. ”That need not concern you.”
”A woman must be all to a man, or nothing?”
”You must be all to me, or nothing.”
She sat down in an arm-chair in that part of the room that was in shadow. She always sat instinctively in shadow when she wanted to think.
”Well?” Sir Hugh said. ”What are you thinking?”
She glanced up at him. ”That you don't look much like a beggar,” she said.
”It is possible to feel tattered in a frock-coat and patent-leather boots,” he answered. ”Good-bye. I am going back to my crossing.” And he moved towards the door.
”No, stop!” she exclaimed. ”Before you go, tell me one thing.”
”What is it?”
”Will you ever ask me to marry you again?”
He looked hard into her eyes. ”I shall always want to, but I shall never do it,” he said slowly.
”I am glad you have told me that. We women depend so much on a repet.i.tion of the offence, when we blame a man for saying he loves us, and ask him not to do it again. If you really mean only to propose once, I must reconsider my position.”
She was laughing, but the tears stood in her eyes.
”Why do you want to make this moment a farcical one?” he asked rather bitterly.
”Oh, Hugh!” she answered, ”don't you see? Because it is really--really so tragic. I only try to do for this moment what we all try to do for life.”
”Then you love me?” he said, moving a step forward.
”I never denied that,” she replied. ”I might as well deny that I am a woman.”
He held out his arms. ”Eve--then I shall never go back to the crossing.”
But she drew back. ”Go--go there till to-morrow! To-morrow afternoon I will see you; and if you love me after that--”