“But David, you must——”
He shook his head. The obstinacy of illness was upon him.
“I can’t—and I won’t,” he declared. Then, as if realising that he owed her some explanation, he added:
“He’s so spoilt. Why are women such fools? He’s never been made to do anything he didn’t like. He won’t take food or medicine, and I’m the only person who has the least authority over him. And she’s half crazy with anxiety, poor soul. I have promised not to go until he’s round the corner. It’s only a matter of a day or two, so we must just put it off.”
Elizabeth put her hand on his arm.
“David, we need not put off the marriage,” she said in her most ordinary tones. “You see, if we are married, we could start off as soon as the child was better.”
She had it in her mind that unless David would let her help him soon, he would be past helping.
He looked at her indifferently. “You will stay here?”
“Not unless you wish,” she answered.
“I? Oh! it is for you to say.”