Part 29 (1/2)
”What are you going to do?”
”That's for you to decide.”
”It concerns you more than me. Do you love him?”
”I'm not sure.”
”Eh! Not sure--you've had time enough.”
”He's difficult to understand,” said Jane.
”In what way?” asked Tom.
”I can hardly say; it's hard to explain. He seems fond of me; he might make a good husband.”
”What's amiss with him?”
”Oh, nothing; but sometimes he frightens me,” she said.
”Good Lord, how?” exclaimed Tom.
”He's fierce at times--he's terribly determined even when he's making love.”
”That proves he's in earnest.”
”Perhaps so; it shows he wants me, anyhow.”
”That's in his favor. He's offered marriage, so he means right by you.”
”It's his only chance,” she replied.
Tom thought there was a good deal of common-sense in her; he put it down to his credit that he had brought her up well, opened her eyes.
”He must have money. Perhaps I'd better have a talk with him.”
”What about?”
”He ought to settle a sum on you,” said Tom cautiously.
Jane smiled as she thought: ”You want money out of him, but you mean well.”
”Men with cash generally give their wives a bit down,” said Tom.
”If he did that, wouldn't it be rather like buying me?” she asked.
”Lord, no! Rich folk do it, the swells. Why shouldn't he?”
”He's not what I'd call a swell--real gentleman--not like Mr. Chesney,”
said Jane.