“For some time,” he replied, measuring his words, “I have been coming slowly—to that conclusion.”
“That I am not fitted to be your wife?”
“If you like to put it so.”
Then her anger, hitherto kept under, flamed up. “Then what right,” she cried, “if that was in your mind, had you to treat me as you treated me at Beaudelays—in the garden? What right had you to kiss me? Rather, what right had you to insult me? For it was an insult—it was an insult, if you were not going to marry me! Don’t you know, sir, that it was vile? That it was unforgivable?”
She had never looked more handsome, never more attractive than at this moment. The day was failing, but the glow of the fire fell on her face, and on her eyes sparkling with anger. He took in the picture, he owned her charm, he even came near to repenting. But it was too late, and “It may have been vile—and you may not forgive it,” he answered hardily, “but I’d do it again, my dear, on the same provocation!”
“You would——”
“I would do it again,” he repeated coolly. “Don’t you know that you are handsome enough to turn any man’s head? And what is a kiss after all? We are cousins. If you were not such a prude, I would kiss you now?”
She was furiously angry—or she fancied that she was. But it may be that, deep down in her woman’s mind, she was not truly angry. And, indeed, how could she be angry when in her heart a little bird was beginning to sing—was telling her that she was free, that presently this cloud would be behind her, and that the sky would be blue? Already the message was making itself heard, already she was finding it hard to keep up appearances, to frown upon him and play her part.
Yet she flashed out at him. Was he not going too fast, was he not riding off too lightly? “Oh!” she cried, “You dare to say that! Even while you break off with me!”
But his selfish, masterful nature had now the upper hand. He had eaten his leek and he was anxious to be done with it. “And what then?” he said. “I believe that you know that I am right. I believe that you know that we are not suited to one another.”