Part 31 (1/2)
”Well, if you can't, don't cry, little girl. There's nothing to cry about. I can stand it. All the trouble is, it does seem to me that I could take care of you better than any other fellow on earth, but maybe that's my conceit, and you'll find somebody else that will do better than I. Now don't cry.” Francis pulled her hat off gently, and patted her head. His face was quite white, but he tried to smile.
”Don't cry, dear,” he said again. ”It was nothing you could help. I didn't much suppose you liked me. There's nothing much in me to like.
I'm an ordinary kind of a fellow.”
Francis got up and walked off a little way.
Lois sobbed harder. Finally she stole a glance at him between her fingers. She could see his profile quite pale and stern as he stood on the edge of the terrace. She made a little inarticulate call, and he turned quickly.
”What is it, Lois?” he asked, coming toward her.
”I didn't say--I--didn't like you,” she whispered faintly.
”Lois!”
”I didn't say so.”
”Lois, do you? Answer me quick.”
She hid her face again.
”Lois, you must answer me now.”
”I like you well enough, but I can't marry you.”
”Lois, is there any fellow in Green River that wants you? Is that the reason?”
She shook her head. ”I can't ever marry anybody,” she said, and her voice was suddenly quite firm. She wiped her eyes.
Francis sat down beside her. ”O Lois, you do love me, after all?”
”I can't marry you,” said she.
”Why not, dear?”
”I can't. You mustn't ask me why.”
Francis looked down at her half laughing. ”Some dreadful obstacle in the way?”
She nodded solemnly.
Francis put his arm around her. ”Oh, my dear,” he said, ”don't you know obstacles go for nothing if you do like me, after all? Wait a little and you'll find out. O Lois, are you sure you do like me? You are so pretty.”
”I can't,” repeated Lois, trembling.
”Suppose this obstacle were removed, dear, you would then?”
”It never can be.”
”But if it were, you would? Yes, of course you would. Then I shall remove it, you depend upon it, I shall, dear. Lois, I liked you the minute I saw you, and, it's terribly conceited, but I do believe you liked me a little. Dear, if it ever can be, I'll take care of you all my life.”