She stared at him.
"Let us quarrel—and continue to respect each other!"
She shook her head. "You speak about it too coldly."
"Cold—I?" he said. "You silence me when you say that! You know I am not cold!"
"It is better for us to part," she said, moving towards the door.
He hastened to get between her and the door. "Corinna, the reason I am obliged to fight you is because you wield such a dreadful power! In reality I am terrified of you! If you married me I would have no defences at all! I would be at your mercy because I love you so!"
"You're always laughing at me," she murmured.
"I swear I am not! People who love do not make bargains, Corinna. All that I am or ever will be is yours. Take me and make what you can of it!"
Corinna, who had not looked at him all this while, now turned a comical face of remonstrance. "But you mustn't!" she said. "You mustn't give in to me like that! You must oppose my temper and my wilfulness, whatever I say!"
It was Evan's turn to stare. Then he understood that this was surrender—Corinna's way. He laughed in pure delight and opened his arms. "Come here, you wretch!"