“It’s good of you, Helen, to take this interest——” began Kit with difficulty.
“Kit, stop!” she whispered. “Look at me!”
He looked at her—slowly, reluctantly, and quickly again averted his eyes. She half lay upon one hip, supported by her elbow, her face turned toward him pillowed in her curved hand. She was handsomer than Kit had ever before seen her, but he did not want to look at her.
“You idiot!” Helen said, fiercely. “Are you a girl of twelve? Though I don’t know one who is such an idiot! Kit, see me! I know what I am, what I can give you. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, my good Lord above us! Helen, for mercy’s sake,” he gasped. “Don’t! It—it—it isn’t funny! It’s a poor joke!”
“You know as well as I do that I mean what I say,” Helen said. “In these hands I hold influence, wealth, fame, every prize you can name. In this brain and beauty of mine I have all the treasures a man could desire. Humble? No. Why should I be? Vain? No! Not that, either. Sure of myself and honest; saying what you can see is true. How many in your place would turn from me? Let’s talk it out, Kit. Why won’t you marry me?”
“I—I—— Oh, Helen! For heaven’s sake! I can’t!” cried Kit, tugging at his collar.
“You can’t!” Helen mocked him. “Ah, but you can, my dearest! Listen to reason. Your aunt wants it above all earthly things. She will be happy herself and endow you richly if you do what will pay for itself without her help. Father is a winning card; you’ll hold him. You’ll be playing in luck every day, with him up your sleeve. And I? Haven’t I proved what I can be on the chummy tack? Haven’t you had a good time with me lately, though I kept down and out of sight everything really worth while? How could you have a better travelling pal, or a hostess to back up your game in the embassy, or at Washington? And the other side of me, the lover, the wife? Oh, Kit, I’ll play that part till you’ll be drunk with happiness! Am I not a princess? Haven’t you said so? Just look at what is here for your taking!” Kit was compelled to meet her eyes. He stared at her and stood transfixed.
“Ah, Kit!” Helen purred. “Why can’t you marry me?—can’t, forsooth! I haven’t told you that I love you, but I do! I want you, Kit, and no one else, though I can have any one else on call. Are you imagining yourself in love with the girl Latham has chosen? Nonsense, Kit! That was the stirring of fancy, not love! What could make you forget that surface scratch like real love, love for me, me, your wife? When you learn what love is, as I will teach you, Kit, how absurd all trifles will seem! Keep your eyes on mine, Kit, you young sun god, and then tell me, if you can, why you will not marry me? Are you afraid of love, Kit, as a girl is afraid? But not I, oh, not I! I’m not afraid to take what I want, what wants me! Tell me, now as you stand looking at me, why you who are strong, and young, and free, and able to love, would throw away this Helen who will not let you go! Who will not!” Kit had retreated farther, but he could not take his eyes from Helen.
There was left in him no power to think; only to feel.