Part 84 (2/2)
She still kept her head averted, but he could feel how she was trembling.
”And you think--” she began softly.
”That I have been patient long enough. I have waited and hoped because--”
”Because you are so generous, so kind--such a man!” she said softly and with head still averted.
”And yet since I have been well again, you have kept me at arm's length.
Dear, you--love me still, don't you?”
”Love you?” she repeated, ”love you?” For a moment she turned and looked up at him then drew her arm from his and walked on with head averted once more. So they entered the rose garden and coming to the lily pool leaned there side by side.
”Hermione,” said he, staring down into the water, ”if you really love me, why do you hate to kiss me? Why do you hardly suffer me to touch you? And you've never even called me by my name, that I remember!”
”Geoffrey!” she breathed; ”and I--love you to touch me! And I don't hate to kiss you, Geoffrey dear.”
”Then why do you keep me at arm's length?”
”Do I?” she questioned softly, gazing down at the lily pads.
”You know you do. Why?”
”Well--because.”
”Because what?”
”Oh, well, just--because.”
”Hermione--tell me.”
”Well, everything is so strange--so unreal! This great house, the servants, all the beautiful clothes you bought me! To have so very much of everything after having to do with so very little--it's all so wonderful and--dreadful!”
”Dreadful?”
”You are so--dreadfully rich!”
”Is that the reason you keep me at such a distance? Is that why you avoid me?”
”Avoid you?”
”Yes, dear. You've done it very sweetly and delicately, but you have avoided me lately. Why?”
Hermione didn't answer.
”And you haven't touched any of the monthly allowance I make you,” he went on, frowning a little, ”not one cent. Why, Hermione?”
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