Part 52 (1/2)

”I'm sorry, Jim!”

”I don't want you to be sorry; I want you to understand Evelyn ram”

”Ah,” said Carrie, ”I suppose it hurt?”

”Let's be frank! It couldn't hurt ot a knock You see, I trusted Evelyn, and after the night on the sands felt myself a shabby cur; but I meant to keep h her voice was calm as she said, ”I did not trust Evelyn The trouble was, I couldn't warn you”

”Yet you wanted to warn me? Oh, I know! You have stood betweenIt was not your pluck that failed; you knew my obstinacy----”

He stopped and Carrie was silent He moved a few paces and came back

”Can't you speak?” he asked

”What am I to say, Jim?”

”Well,” he said hoarsely, ”if you won't talk, you can listen You have borne with ood; I'ht for all I wanted and winning ave me a ridiculous confidence Well, I expect I reached the top of ot Evelyn Then our adventure on the sands knocked me flat; I knew ive; let you nurse me when I was sick, and cook for me in the woods I knew your worth and chose Evelyn! Then, when I'd promised to marry her, I took you in my arms and kissed you!”

”Yet you meant to marry her; that was rather fine, Jim,” said Carrie quietly

”I don't know if it was fine or not; it ht have made bad worse

Besides, you showed h you knew I loved you”

”Yes; I did know You ”

Jienerous dear! But I'ht to have gone away and ht to have waited, to save your pride, but it would have been too hard

Well, I' line, but I want you, and you know g and go away for good”

Carrie got up and looked at hiave him a tender smile

”You are rather foolish, Jim, but you mean well and I am satisfied”

He stood still for a moment, as if he doubted what he had heard, and she said quietly, ”If , it would be very small”