Part 64 (1/2)
He gasped, as though out of it again. ”Do you mean I am not grown enough?”
She flushed and improvised on his theme. ”Not quite that. You hooked yourself, as you threatened to do. But suppose I had landed you. You know the next step--hot water. What a lot you would have got into, too!”
”You are thinking of my mother?”
”Yes, raising Cain, I think you said once. Oh, dear, swim about and be thankful.” And a vision of Mrs. Maper's amazement twitched the corners of her lips and made them more enchanting.
”I'm not so cold-blooded as all that. But if you do throw me back, let it be with the promise to take me again, when I _am_ grown. I don't say it to tempt you, but you know I shall be very rich.”
”Indigestible, do you mean?”
”Oh, please let us drop that metaphor! Metaphors can never go on all fours.”
”Certainly not when they have fins.”
”Don't jest, Eil--Miss O'Keeffe! Let me redeem you from your sordid life.”
”Why is it sordid? You said work was divine.”
”You can work in a higher sphere.”
”And this is the Socialist! I really thought you'd want me to turn factory la.s.s.”
”You are laughing at me.”
”I am perfectly serious. I won't drag you down from Socialism, and a head-shawl wouldn't become me.”
”Why, you'd look sweet in it. Dear, dear, Miss O'Keeffe--”
”Good-by.”
”No, you shan't go.” He barred her way. Her airiness had given him new hope.
”If you don't behave sensibly, I'll go altogether--give notice.”
”Then I'll follow you to your next place.”
”No followers allowed. Seriously, I'll leave if you are foolish.”
”Very well,” he said abruptly. ”Let's go on reading Plato,” and he turned to the book.
”No, no more Dialogues, in or out of Plato.”
She was smiling but stern. He opened the library door and bowed as she pa.s.sed out.
”Remember,” he said. ”I will remain foolish for ever.”
”You have too long an opinion of yourself,” was Eileen's parting flash.