"Well—I expect really that you know men well enough, Miss Sharp, to know that they have sudden temptations—but that a strong will can overcome them. I was very much moved about your grief that afternoon, and the suppressed emotion, and the exasperation you had caused me, unbalanced me—I am quite unlikely ever to feel again—if you will marry me, I will give you my word I will never touch you, or expect anything, of you except what you agree to give in the bargain. You can lead your own life—and I can lead mine."
I felt suddenly that these last words were not very wise—for they aroused in her mind the thought that I should go on having friends like Suzette. I hastened to add—
"You will have my deepest respect, and as my wife shall be treated with every courtesy and honour."
She sat down again and raised her hands to her eyes as though to remove her glasses, and then remembered and dropped them.
"I see that you would rather not answer to-day, Miss Sharp—you might prefer to go now and think about it?"
"Thank you." She turned and walked back into the little salon without a word more, and when she went I closed my eye exhausted with the great strain.
But I did not feel altogether hopeless until Burton came in to tell me lunch was ready and said that Alathea had gone.
"The young lady said as how she would not be back she expected, and she took her own pens and things in her bag. She was as white as a lily, give you my word, Sir Nicholas."
I am ashamed to say that I felt a little faint then. Had I overstepped the mark, and should I never see her again?
A whole party of the fluffies were coming to dinner, and we were to have a very gay evening. I ordered my one horse Victoria and went for a drive in the Bois, to calm myself, and the trees with their early autumn tints seemed to mock at me. I could see too much beauty in them, and it hurt. Everything hurt! This was certainly the worst afternoon I have had to bear since I came to on No-Man's Land near Langemarke. But I suppose at dinner I played the game, for Coralie and the rest congratulated me.