Part 5 (1/2)
I looked at her speechless Why could she not take No for an answer? As usual she read ht and replied to it
”Why did not Adaly ”Or rather why did he eat it after reat gain of the world which thenceforward becanity of labour?”
”Because the woman tempted him,” I snapped
”Quite so It has always been her business in life and alill be
Well, I a you now, and not in vain”
”Do you re the woood school-e to overcoress That allegory norance instead of a fall from innocence”
”You are too clever for me with your perverted notions Also, you said ere not to argue I have therefore only to repeat that I will not eat your apple, or rather, breathe your _Taduki_”
”Ada her head ”The sa and the same old end, because you see at last you will do exactly what Ada over ht in the eyes with the curious result that all ain, laughing softly, and reht that Allan Quatermain was a moral coward!”
”Coward,” I repeated ”Coward!”
”Yes, that's the right word At least you were a e has come back to you Why, it's alo, listen I have some power over you, my friend, as you have some power over me, for I tell you frankly if you wished , I should have to do it; and the saoing to open a great gate and to see wonderful things, glorious things that will thrill us for the rest of our lives, and perhaps suggest to us what is co after death You will not failvoice ”If you do I must try alone since no one else will serve, and then I _know_--how I cannot say--that I shall be exposed to great danger Yes, I think that I shall lose rave You would not have that happen toup old memories?”
”Of course not,” I staive myself”
”Yes, of course not There was really no need for me to ask you Then you promise you will do all I wish?” and once , ”Don't be ashamed, for you res and am not quite as other women are You will recollect I told you that which I have never breathed to any other living soul, years ago on that night when first we met”
”I proet what, when she cut h, for I know your word is rather better than your bond
Now dress as quickly as you can or the dinner will be spoiled”
CHAPTER IV THROUGH THE GATES
Short as was the ti sounded, it proved ample for reflection With every article of attire that I discarded went sola-boots I was fallen indeed I who had come to this place so full of virtuous resolutions, could now only reflect upon the true and universal ht be kept from temptation And yet what had tempted me? For my life's sake I could not say The desire to please asolitary experih whether they should be less dangerous carried out jointly remained to be seen Certainly it was not any wish to eat of her proffered apple of Knowledge, for already I knew a great deal eneral Oh! the truth was that wohtiest force in the world, at any rate where the majority of us poor rew desperate and wondered if I could escape Perhaps I reat coat or hat although the night was so cold and I should probably be taken up as a lunatic No, it was iht not be broken I had passed my word of honour Well, I was in for it and after all as there of which I need be afraid that I should treh I were about to run aith somebody's wife, or rather to be run aith quite contrary toat all A mere nonsensical ordeal much less serious than a visit to the dentist
Probably that stuff had lost its strength by now--that is, unless it had grown , as is the case with certain sorts of explosives And if it had not, the worst to be expected was a silly dream, followed perhaps by headache That is, unless I did not chance to wake up again at all in this world, which was a , suppose I woke and she didn't! What should I say then? Of a certainty I should find myself in the dock Yes, and there were further dreadful eventualities, quite conceivable, every one of theed me into a cold perspiration and ed to sit down