Part 80 (2/2)
”There is nothing remarkable in having one's _accepted_ lover at one's feet.”
”But you are not that,” she says, lifting her brows and seeming half amused at his boldness.
”By one word you can make me so.”
”Can I? What is the word?”
This is puzzling; but Mr. Ronayne, nothing daunted says,--
”You have only to say, 'you are,' and I am.”
”It isn't Christmas yet,” says Mrs. Bohun: ”you shouldn't throw conundrums at me out of season. It is too much? 'you _are_ and I _am_.'
I couldn't guess it, indeed; I'm anything but clever.”
”If you say the 'I will,' you will find the solution to _our_ conundrum at once.”
”But that is two words.”
”Olga, does the fact that I love you carry no weight with it at all.”
”But do you love me--_really_?”
”Need I answer that?”
”But there are others, younger, prettier.”
”Nonsense! There is no one prettier than you in this wide world.”
”Ah!” with a charming smile, ”now indeed I believe you do love me, for the Greek Cupid is blind. What a silly boy you are to urge this matter!
For one thing I am older than you.”
”A year or two.”
”For another----”
”I will not listen. 'Stony limits cannot hold love out:' why, therefore, try to discourage me?”
”But you should think----”
”I think only that if you will say what I ask you, I shall be always with you, and you with me.”
”What is _your_ joy is _my_ fear. Custom creates weariness! And--'the lover in the husband may be lost!'”
”Ah! you have thought of me in that light,” exclaims the young man, eagerly. ”Beloved if you will only take me, you shall find in me both a lover and husband until your life's end.”
The smile has died from Olga's lips; she holds out her hands to him.
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