Jack smiled. "Be careful," he said. "Don't set me a bad example by referring to the subject yourself."
"Well, I will, for a change. I have been making up my mind to end this way of dragging on existence. This sort of neither-one-thing-nor-the-other has got to end. It wearies me. I am not half as strong as I was. I went away to pick up, and now I am no better."
"And how do you propose to end it?" Jack was surprised at the decision in her voice.
"I propose to break it off all together," said she firmly.
"Of course," said Jack, "there is no other alternative for you but marriage."
Nina was startled at first by these words. But he had only spoken them casually.
"Certainly. A break off or marriage are the only alternatives. Going on like this is what I will not stand any longer."
Jack was shaking in his shoes for fear this was the last of him. He controlled his anxiety, though, and shutting his eyes, he leaned back, supinely, as if he knew that what he said did not matter much. She would do as she liked—no question about that!
"I have, I think, at some previous time," said he, from the recesses of the chair where he was calmly judicial with his eyes shut, "advocated the desirability of marriage. I think I have mentioned the subject before. Of course, this is only an opinion, and not entitled, perhaps, to a great deal of weight."
Nina for the first time in her life was annoyed that Jack was not sufficiently ardent. The unfortunate young man had had cold water thrown over him too many times. He was getting wise. To-day he was keeping out of range. Nina had been decidedly eccentric lately and might give him his congé at any moment. She was evidently in a queer mood still, and, to-day, Jack would give her no chance to gird at him.