"I should simply love that," said Gwen. "I should really! I'm not clever, I know, but I would try my best, and—I'm so—afraid of you," she said with a gulp of emotion, "and admire you so awfully!"
The Warden's face hardened a little, but Gwen did not observe it; all she saw and knew was that the dismal part of the interview was over, for he accepted this outburst as a definite reply on her part to his offer. She was so glad she had said just what she had said. It seemed to be all right.
"That is your decision?" he said, only he did not move towards her. He stood there, standing with his back to the projection of the fireplace, his head on a level with the frame of the portrait. The two faces, of the present Warden of the year 1916 and the Warden of the eighteenth century, made a striking contrast. Both men had no lack of physical beauty, but the one had discovered the "rights" of man, and therefore of a Warden, and the other had discovered the "duties" of men, including Wardens.
He stood there and did not approach her. He was hesitating.
He could, if he wished it, exercise his power over her and make her answer "No." He could make her shrink away from him, or even deny that she had wished for an interview. And he could do this safely, for Gwendolen herself was ignorant of the fact that he had on the previous night exercised any influence over her except that of argument. She would have no suspicion that he was tampering with her will for his own purposes. He could extricate himself now and at this moment. Now, while she was still waiting for him to tell her whether he would marry her.
The temptation was a heavy one. It was heavy, although he knew from the first that it was one which he could and would resist. There was no real question about it.
He stood there by the hearth, a free man still. In a moment he would be bound hand and foot.
Still, come what may, he must satisfy his honour. He must satisfy his honour at any price.
Gwendolen saw that he did not move and she became suddenly alarmed. Didn't he mean to keep his promise after all? Had he taken a dislike to her?
"Have I offended you?" she asked humbly. "You're not pleased with me. Oh, Dr. Middleton, you do make me so afraid!" She got up from her chair, looking very pale. "You've been so awfully kind and good to me, but you make me frightened!" She held out her hands to him and turned her face away, as if to hide it from him. "Oh, do be kind!" she pleaded.