Part 41 (2/2)
”Am I to think, then, you prefer going with your cousin?” in a freezing tone.
”Certainly, I prefer his society to yours, ten thousand times,”
forcibly; ”it was mere idleness made me say I wished to go with you. Had you agreed to my proposition I should probably have changed my mind afterward, so everything is better as it is; I am glad now you did not answer me differently.”
”I did not answer you at all,” returns Guy, unwisely.
”No, you were _afraid_,” returns she, with a mocking laugh that sends the red blood to his forehead.
”What do you mean?” he asks, angrily.
”Nothing. It was foolish my mentioning the subject. We are disputing about a mere trifle. I am going with Archie whatever happens, because I like him, and because I know he is always glad to be with me.”
She turns as though to leave him, and Guy impulsively catches her hand to detain her; as he does so, his eyes fall upon the little white fingers imprisoned in his own, and there, upon one of them--beside his own ring--he sees another,--newer.
”Who gave you that?” he asks, impulsively, knowing well the answer to his question.
”Archibald,” removing her hand quietly, but with determination.
A dead silence follows. Then, speaking calmly by a supreme effort, Guy says:
”I suppose so. Are you going to marry your cousin, Lilian?”
”Is it in the capacity of guardian you ask that question?” defiantly.
”You should remember I don't acknowledge one.”
”Must I understand by that you will accept him, or have accepted him?”
”Certainly not. You told me yesterday you found it impossible to understand me at any time; why seek to do what is beyond your power?
However, I don't mind telling you that as yet Archibald has not made me a formal offer of his heart and hand. No doubt”--mockingly--”when he does me the honor to propose to me, he will speak to you on the subject.” Then she laughs a little. ”Don't you think it is rather absurd arranging matters for poor Archie without his consent? I a.s.sure you he has as much idea of proposing to me as the man in the moon.”
”If you are not engaged to him you should not wear his ring,” severely.
”I am not engaged to you, and I wear your ring. If it is wrong to accept a ring from a man to whom one is not engaged, I think it was very reprehensible of you to give me this,” pointing to it.
”With me it is different,” Guy is beginning, rather lamely, not being sure of his argument; but Miss Chesney, disdaining subterfuge, interrupts him.
”A thing is either right or wrong,” she says, superbly. ”I may surely wear either none, or both.”
”Then remove both,” says Guy, feeling he would rather see her without his, if it must only be worn in conjunction with Chesney's.
”I shan't,” returns Lilian, deliberately. ”I shall wear both as long as it suits me,--because I adore rings.”
”Then you are acting very wrongly. I know there is little use in my speaking to you, once you are bent upon having your own way. You are so self-willed, and so determined.”
”Without a friend, what were humanity, To hunt our errors up with a good grace?”
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