She took him in her arms and walked down the beach with him, going on with her song in a low tone:
”‘He knocks at the door and he pulls up the pin,
And he says, “Mrs. Wingfield, is Polly within?”
“Oh, Polly’s up-stairs a-sewing her silk.”
Down comes Miss Polly as white as milk.’”
“Eve never does what you ask, Paul,” remarked Cicely.
“Do I ask so often?”
“I wish you would ask her oftener.”
“To be refused oftener?”
“To gain your point—to conquer her. She is too self-willed—for a woman.” She looked at Paul with a smile.
The tie between them had become very close, and it was really her dislike to see him rebuffed, even in the smallest thing, that made her say, alluding to Eve, “Conquer her; she is too self-willed—for a woman.”
Paul smiled. “I shall never conquer her.”
“Try, begin now; make her think that you want her to walk with you.”