‘Be as independent as you like,’ he said; ‘only keep your love for me.’
‘Oh, indeed! It’s your experience, is it, that the two things can go together? That’s the difference between man and woman, I suppose. I shall love you just as little as possible—and how little that will be, perhaps I had better not tell you.’
Still he stood gazing at her.
‘You look very beautiful to-day.’
‘I know. I saw it for myself before I left home. But we won’t talk about that. When do you go?’
‘My goods will be warehoused to-morrow, and the next day I go to Liverpool.’
‘I’m glad it’s so soon. We shan’t need to see each other again. Smoke your pipe. I’m going to make a cup of tea.’
‘Kiss me first. You forgot when you came in.’
‘You get no kiss by ordering it. Beg for it prettily, and we’ll see.’
‘What does it all mean, Nancy? How can you have altered like this?’