Part 7 (1/2)
”To-morrow!” Faith felt as if she was drowning. She did not know that she had turned pale to the lips.
He went on speaking quickly.
”I can't take you--I wish I could. You'd want lots of clothes for one thing, and it would take too long to get them, and to explain things to your mother and the rest of the world. But”--he leaned a little nearer to her over the table--”I've got a special licence in my pocket,” he said. ”Will you marry me before I go?”
Faith put out both hands blindly and grasped the edge of the table before her. For a moment she felt as if she were blind and deaf; then she drew a long breath.
”Marry you--before you go!” she gasped. ”To-day?”
The Beggar Man smiled. ”Well, there's hardly time to-day, is there? I thought to-morrow morning--early--about nine, if that is not too early for you.”
”I have to be at the factory at half-past seven.” She uttered the excuse tremblingly, knowing full well that it was no excuse at all.
He made an impatient movement.
”There is no need to consider the factory. You were to have left, anyway. I'll make it right with them.”
Faith had been conscious of a feeble sense of resistance, but now, as she met his eyes, all will power seemed to desert her.
”Very well,” she said, in a whisper.
The Beggar Man gripped her hand. ”Thank you. I hope you will never regret it,” he said.
The tears swam into Faith's eyes.
”And--mother?” she faltered.
”You can tell her to-morrow as soon as we're married, if you like,” he answered. ”Or leave it till I come back, and I'll tell her myself. I shall only be gone a little while, after all. Seventeen days will quickly pa.s.s.”
”Will they?” She smiled wistfully. To her ignorance, America sounded as if it must be in another world.
”Don't you want any more tea? Very well, then, we'll get along.”
They went out into the street together.
”I haven't bought any new clothes,” she said timidly. He glanced down at her.
”Never mind--get them while I'm away. What does it matter what clothes you are married in? There will only be me to see you.”
He meant the words kindly, but they gave her a little thrill of apprehension. Only him! That was what it would be for the rest of her life--only this man, who, after all, was almost a stranger to her.
She wanted to put her thoughts into words, but glancing up at his grave face she was suddenly afraid, and he went on talking, quite unconscious of her agitation.
”Do you know Victoria Station? But of course you do! Well, if you'll meet me there to-morrow.... No, I'll come and meet you and we'll drive down together. I'll be at the end of your road at half-past eight. Will that do?”
”Yes.” Her heart was beating so fast she thought it would choke her.
Yesterday she had been all happiness and excitement at the thought of her marriage. This morning it had still seemed some wonderful dream, but now ... the suddenness of it all made her feel as if someone had asked her to jump off the edge of the world.