Part 44 (2/2)
”Then choose better grounds, Jake; I think they can be found,” Lucy answered with a smile ”But shohat you want You can't expect to have it offered, for you to pick up”
She went away, leaving hih his heart beat
Lucy was clever and would not have given hiht it was justified Still, she ht be mistaken and he feared to risk too much; then there were other difficulties--he was not rich
He went to the writing-roo his brows, and stopped abruptly when he found Alice there alone She put aside a half-finished letter, as if she did not want hi down at her
”I did not send the telegra that I had found Lawrence”
”No,” she said, s, ”I know you didn't But why do you wish to explain this?”
Foster hesitated ”To begin with, it”
”But you were glad you were able to keep your prolad, indeed”
Alice gave hiely ”So Lawrence said for you what you would have liked to say yourself? One would is”
”Yes,” said Foster steadily, ”I didn't tell him, but I think he did know”
He stopped and Alice looked down at the table for a aze
”After all, you would have liked to havein her face that stirred his blood, and forgetting his drawbacks he e
”I wanted it treh! Aren't you rather hard to satisfy?” she asked with a hint of pride that deceived but did not stop him
”I'm afraid I'm very rash,” he answered quietly ”You see, I wanted your love; I wanted you But I was afraid to ask”
She looked at hih her manner enforced a curious restraint
”Noonder why?”
”You're so beautiful! I durstn't hope you'd co to offer”
”You have unselfishness, loyalty, and unflinching steadfastness Are these nothing?”
Foster felt eer
Alice had somehow imposed it and he ht she wanted hies In many ways, Canada is a hard country, and I'm poor”
”Did you think that would count for very much? We are not rich at the Garth”
”I seemed to know that if by any chance you loved s; your upbringing and traditions
I couldn't hope your parents would agree”