Part 27 (1/2)
”Yes, I'm in earnest. Can you forgive me?”
”There is nothing to forgive, as I'm sure you didn't mean and don't remember the blood curdling sentiments you aired.”
”But I did mean them in one sort of a way, and didn't in another. Let us start afresh.”
”How do you mean to start afresh?”
”I mean for us to be chums again.”
”Oh, chums!” he said impatiently; ”I want to be something more.”
”Well, I will be something more if you will try to make me,” I replied.
”How? What do you mean?”
”I mean you never try to make me fond of you. You have never uttered one word of love to me.”
”Why, bless me!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed in surprise.
”It's a fact. I have only flirted to try and see if you cared, but you didn't care a pin.”
”Why, bless me, didn't you say I was not to show any affection yet awhile? And talk about not caring--why, I have felt fit to kill you and myself many a time the last fortnight, you have tormented me so; but I have managed to keep myself within bounds till now. Will you wear my ring again?”
”Oh no; and you must not say I am flirting if I cannot manage to love you enough to marry you, but I will try my best.”
”Don't you love me, Syb? I have thought of nothing else but you night and day since I saw you first. Can it be possible that you don't care a straw for me?” and a pained expression came upon his face.
”Oh, Harold, I'm afraid I very nearly love you, but don't hurry me too much! You can think me sort of secretly engaged to you if you like, but I won't take your ring. Keep it till we see how we get on.” I looked for it, and finding it a few steps away, gave it to him.
”Can you really trust me again after seeing me get in such a vile beast of a rage? I often do that, you know,” he said.
”Believe me, Hal, I liked it so much I wish you would get in a rage again. I can't bear people who never let themselves go, or rather, who have nothing in them to carry them away--they cramp and bore me.”
”But I have a frightful temper. Satan only knows what I will do in it yet. Would you not be frightened of me?”
”No fear,” I laughed; ”I would defy you.”
”A tomt.i.t might as well defy me,” he said with amus.e.m.e.nt.
”Well, big as you are, a tomt.i.t having such superior facilities for getting about could easily defy you,” I replied.
”Yes, unless it was caged,” he said.
”But supposing you never got it caged,” I returned.
”Syb, what do you mean?”
”What could I mean?”