Kitty Bonnair fixed him with her dark eyes and shook her head sadly.
“Ah, Rufus,” she sighed, “when will you ever learn that a woman does not always mean all she says? When you had made me so happy by your tender consideration––for you could be considerate when you chose––I said that I loved you; and I did, but not in the way you thought. I did mean it 267 at the moment, from my heart, but not for life––it was no surrender, no promise––I just loved you for being so good and kind. But when, taking advantage of what I said in a moment of weakness, you tried to claim that which I had never given, I––I said more than I meant again. Don’t you understand? I was hurt, and disappointed, and I spoke without thinking, but you must not hold that against me forever! And after I have come clear down here––to avoid me––to always go out with Lucy and leave me alone––to force me to arrange a meeting––”
She stopped, and Hardy shifted uneasily in his seat. In his heart of hearts he had realized from the first his inequality in this losing battle. He was like a man who goes into a contest conquered already by his ineptitude at arms––and Kitty would have her way! Never but once had he defied her power, and that had been more a flight than a victory. There was fighting blood in his veins, but it turned to water before her. He despised himself for it; but all the while, in a shifting, browbeaten way, he was seeking for an excuse to capitulate.
“But, Kitty,” he pleaded, “be reasonable. I have my duties down here––the sheep are trying to come in on us––I have to patrol the river. This morning before you were awake I was in the saddle, and 268 now I have just returned. To-morrow I shall be off again, so how can I arrange a meeting?”
He held out his hands to her appealingly, carried away by the force of his own logic.
“You might at least invite me to go with you,” she said. “Unless you expect me to spend all my time getting lost with Judge Ware,” she added, with a plaintive break in her voice.
“Why, yes––yes,” began Hardy haltingly. “I––I have asked Lucy to go with me to-morrow, but––”
“Oh, thank you––thank you!” burst out Kitty mockingly. “But what?”
“Why, I thought you might like to come along too,” suggested Hardy awkwardly.
“What? And rob her of all her pleasure?” Kitty smiled bitterly as she turned upon him. “Why, Rufus Hardy,” she exclaimed, indignantly, “and she just dotes on every word you say! Yes, she does––any one can see that she simply adores you. I declare, Rufus, your lack of perception would make an angel weep––especially if it was a lady angel. But you may as well understand once and for all that I will never deprive dear, patient, long-suffering Lucy of anything she sets her heart on. No, I will not go with you the next day. If you haven’t consideration enough to invite me first, I have sense 269 enough to stay away. It was only yesterday that you took Lucy up to Hidden Water, and to-day I find you with her again; and to-morrow––well, I perceive that I must amuse myself down here. But––oh, look, look! There’s a cowboy––up on that high cliff!”