‘I did not mean to put it that way,—but I want to know what is this Swami to thee that he should interest himself so greatly in thy affairs?’
‘He is my intended husband, Geometrus,’ replied Mercia in a low but firm voice. ‘I mean to give up my post and marry. He is the only man for whom I could make this sacrifice, as I love my profession greatly. But I love Swami better, and intend to share my fortunes with him whatever they be.’
‘And what is to become of me?’ inquired Geometrus while his face turned deathly white; ‘I thought the phonograph said thou didst love me. What am I to think? Was it Swami that filled thy thought when Felicitas asked the same question?’
‘Of course not,’ rejoined Mercia candidly, ‘I was unacquainted with him when the Emperor sought me. But I will endeavour to explain it; otherwise thou mightest arrive at false conclusions.
‘I formed a sincere regard for thee, Geometrus, in the course of these five years that we have worked together; and this regard, owing partly to thy devotion to me, and partly from a sense of loneliness, the result of my necessarily solitary mode of life, grew into such a tender affection that I imagined it was what people call love. Consequently, the notion came into my head that at some time or other—some day in the distant future, I would marry thee if such continued to be thy desire. But now all those ideas have been dissipated; my heart has gone through a complete revolution, for I have met with the man for whom I would willingly give up everything.
‘I love him better than all the stars in the wide universe! Much as I delighted to gaze into the Heavens and study with intense interest the wonders of the Celestial depths, yet he is above them all! He is more to me than thousands of worlds! He is nearer and dearer than millions of suns!’ cried Mercia with clasped hands, and eyes alight with warm enthusiasm.
‘He is certainly nearer if propinquity counts for anything;’ rejoined Geometrus dryly; ‘of course, then, I am to understand that the man who has bowled out the whole Universe, has played it low on me: in other words, I am nowhere now?’
‘That is so,’ said Mercia, ‘I now know what love is, for he has taught me, where thou didst fail. Thou hadst no power to impart this knowledge to my understanding. When I look back, I see that Friendship only inspired my thought for thee. I should have continued all my life searching the Heavens, and worrying out the secrets of Nature had I not met my Marrow, my Ideal, my Fate!’
‘All three represented in the person of Swami?’ added Geometrus cynically.
‘Even so,’ answered Mercia, taking no notice of his derisive tone. ‘In a few days I leave this place, and thou Geometrus canst worthily fill it, and make thy name illustrious for ever.’