“Nevil, I have said it finally. I have no longer the right to conceive it unsaid.”
“So we speak! It’s the language of indolence, temper, faint hearts. ‘Too late’ has no meaning. Turn back with me to the park. I offer you my whole heart; I love you. There’s no woman living who could be to me the wife you would be. I’m like your male nightingale that you told me of: I must have my mate to sing to—that is, work for and live for; and she must not delay too long. Did I? Pardon me if you think I did. You have known I love you. I have been distracted by things that kept me from thinking of myself and my wishes: and love’s a selfish business while... while one has work in hand. It’s clear I can’t do two things at a time—make love and carry on my taskwork. I have been idle for weeks. I believed you were mine and wanted no lovemaking. There’s no folly in that, if you understand me at all. As for vanity about women, I’ve outlived it. In comparison with you I’m poor, I know:—you look distressed, but one has to allude to it:—I admit that wealth would help me. To see wealth supporting the cause of the people for once would—but you say, too late! Well, I don’t renounce you till I see you giving your hand to a man who’s not myself. You have been offended: groundlessly, on my honour! You are the woman of all women in the world to hold me fast in faith and pride in you. It’s useless to look icy: you feel what I say.”
“Nevil, I feel grief, and beg you to cease. I am——It is——”
“‘Too late’ has not a rag of meaning, Cecilia! I love your name. I love this too: this is mine, and no one can rob me of it.”
He drew forth a golden locket and showed her a curl of her hair.
Crimsoning, she said instantly: “Language of the kind I used is open to misconstruction, I fear. I have not even the right to listen to you. I am ... You ask me for what I have it no longer in my power to give. I am engaged.”
The shot rang through him and partly stunned him; but incredulity made a mocking effort to sustain him. The greater wounds do not immediately convince us of our fate, though we may be conscious that we have been hit.
“Engaged in earnest?” said he.
“Yes.”
“Of your free will?”