He squared his shoulders unconsciously, and her fingers gripped the arms of her chair more tightly.
“You can’t help yourself in the end. Why prolong my suspense? Everything is against you. Even Fate is pairing off the others and leaving you and me alone. I know quite well you are lonely—desperately lonely—but it is your own fault. If you would only be sensible and let yourself follow the dictates of your heart, instead of a warped conscience, you could be happy with the rest. I say your heart, because somewhere, hidden away, there’s a soft corner for me you are afraid of. Isn’t that so, Paddy!” and he looked searchingly into her face.
She made no reply, staring into the fire with a perplexed, unhappy expression.
He put one hand over the fingers nearest him and held them fast. She attempted to draw them away, but he retained his hold, and for the moment she went with the flood.
“You have not answered me, mavourneen.”
“I have only one answer—I will not give in.”
“And I say you will. This new loneliness has come to help me. Already you are nearer to me than ever before.”
She drew a long breath.
“It is only because I see we must come to a real understanding once for all. We can’t just go on as we have. That’s chiefly why I remained here now. I want to make you understand.”
She sat up and drew her hand away. “Lawrence, you must leave me in peace. A man cannot honestly want to marry a girl who—who—” Ah! why did she falter?