As he spoke, he drew her down as if to kiss her fondly; but with a nervous shudder she disengaged herself from his arms.
‘No, no!’ she cried. ‘It is only a headache, and will pass away. You must go to the theatre with your sister; I shall be better—when you return.’
‘I would much rather remain with you.’
‘But I wish you to go—I—I should be wretched if you remained on my account.’
‘And I should be wretched there without you. I really will not go.’
‘Not if I wish it, James?’
‘Why should you wish it?’
She looked at him sadly, and turned away; for her heart was bursting at sight of his kind face, so gentle and so unsuspecting.
‘Why should you wish it? You know, dearest, I have no pleasure in anything of this kind unless you are with me. I would rather have a quiet evening at home in your company than go out alone to any entertainment, however amusing.’
‘I know that,’ she said in a low voice, ‘but to-night—I would rather be alone. When you are gone, and all is quiet, I shall lie down, and when you come back I shall be quite well. So go, for my sake—I wish you to be there.’ Seeing her so persistent, and thinking her wish was a mere whim which it would be unkind not to gratify, Forster at last assented, though with a very unwilling mind. He was really alarmed at his wife’s look and manner, and setting it down, in his loving solicitude, to some growing illness, he determined in his own mind to consult the family physician without delay.