He blushed at the confession. “I burnt it.”
“Ah! Burnt me in effigy. That’s what Hal’s done, I expect. That’s where men make mistakes; they’re so impatient. Often a woman’s love begins at the point where a man’s ends. I wonder, one day will you get tired and do something like that to her?”
He wanted to ask her whether her love had begun for Hal at the point where his had ended; but he said, “I was a little boy, then.”
She took his hands and made him meet her eyes. “Little boys and men are alike. Don’t wait at all, Teddy, unless you know you’re strong enough to wait till she’s ready.”
“I am.”
“Easily said. A man once told me that. There came a time when I wanted him badly; I turned round to give him all that he had asked; he was gone.”
She sank her voice. “Can you go on bearing disappointment without showing anger? Can you go on being generous when she hides her kindness? You may have to see her wasting her affection on all kinds of persons who don’t know its value. She may stop away from you to punish herself—she won’t tell you that; and perhaps all the time she’ll be longing to be with you. That’s the kind of girl Desire is, Teddy; she leaves you to guess all that’s best Can you stand that?”
280
He nodded. He couldn’t trust his voice to answer.
“Then, here’s a word of advice. Don’t let her see that you’re too much in earnest.” She laughed, relieving the suspense. “Almost like the wedding-service, wasn’t it?”