Part 28 (1/2)
”It is all finished,” said Sam.
”What is finished?”
”The drama,” the young man explained.
”Oh,” she said, ”do forgive me! My mind is so full of David, I can't think of anything else.”
He smiled at that. ”You couldn't do anything I wouldn't forgive,”
”Couldn't I?”
He looked up at her, wistfully. ”I love you, you know.”
”Oh, please, please--”
”I love you,” he said, trembling.
”Sam,” she said--and in her distress she put her hand on his shoulder--”you don't really care for me. I am so much older, and--there are other reasons. Oh, why did I come here!” she burst out. ”You displease me very much when you talk this way!” She pushed her chair back, and would have risen but for his detaining hand upon her arm,
”Will you marry me?”
”No! of course I won't!”
”Why?”
”Because--” she stopped; then, breathlessly; ”I only want to be let alone, I came to Old Chester to be alone. I didn't want to thrust myself on you.--any of you!”
”You never did,” he said wonderingly. ”You? Why, there never was anybody so reserved, so--shy, almost. That's one reason I love you, I guess,” he said boyishly.
”You mustn't love me.”
”Will you marry me?” he repeated. ”Oh, I know; it is like asking an angel to come down out of heaven--”
”An angel!”
”Mrs. Richie, isn't it possible for you to care, just a little, and marry me?”
”No, Sam: indeed it isn't. Please don't think of it any more.”
”Is it because you love him, still?”
”Love--_him?_” she breathed.
”He is dead,” Sam said; ”and I thought from something you once said, that you didn't really love him. But if you do--”
”My--husband, you mean? No! I don't. I never did. That's not the reason; oh, why did I come here?” she said in a distressed whisper.
At that he lifted his head. ”Don't be unhappy. It doesn't matter about me.” His eyes glittered. ”'All is dross that is not Helena'! I shall love you as long as I live, even if you don't marry me. Perhaps-- perhaps I wouldn't if you did!”