And he saw, amazed, that she did wish it. Pursuing his researches into the nature of women, he perceived vaguely that she would find pleasure in martyrizing herself in Leicester while he was gadding about Paris; and pleasure also in the thought of his uncomfortable thought of her martyrizing herself in Leicester while he was gadding about Paris.
But he said to himself that he did not mean to yield to womanish whims—he, a man.
'And my work?' he questioned lightly.
'Your work will be all the better,' said Geraldine with a firm accent.
And then it seemed to be borne in upon him that womanish whims needed delicate handling. And why not yield this once? It would please her. And he could have been firm had he chosen.
Hence it was arranged.
'I'm only going to please you,' he said to her when he was mournfully seeing her off at St. Pancras the next morning.
'Yes, I know,' she answered, 'and it's sweet of you. But you want someone to make you move, dearest.'
'Oh, do I?' he thought; 'do I?'