“Then you do love me, my darling—I have hardly dared to hope.”
But I drew back, and answered passionately,
“No, I do not! I love no man who can trifle with a young girl, or any woman—no man who has the effrontery to expect some one to take for granted a courtship that has never existed!”
“For Heaven’s sake, what do you mean?”
“Go to Miss Sprig and inquire; she has more reason to take your love for granted than I.”
“I’ll not go to her, but I shall leave you,” he said, with a white face. “You certainly don’t care for me, or you would never deal me such an unjust thrust as this.”
And then I heard him close the front door. I think the neighborhood heard him.
I walked to the window. He was gone.
I told myself I was glad of it—that a good lesson had been taught.
Which of us was teacher remained somewhat obscure.