“Meaning to show him that attentions from him were distasteful.” Zoe’s words came out with great clearness.
“Do you think you are treating the poor wretch properly?” Wylie spoke with the first approach to diffidence he had shown, and she triumphed.
“Yes, I think I am taking the right and honourable course,” she said, slowly and thoughtfully. “As nothing would induce me to marry him, I think it is only fair to let him see it plainly. But really, what this has to do with you——”
He raised his hand, and she wondered whether the gesture spelt appeal or command. He seemed to be wavering between the two. “You ought to marry him,” he said. “It is your duty—the best thing for you.”
“Then I am quite sure I shall not do my duty,” said Zoe calmly. “But since you are taking this kind interest in my future, perhaps you will explain why it should be the best thing for me?”
She had herself well in hand, and spoke with extreme precision, while he brought out his words with difficulty. She could have pitied him if he had not been so persistently wrong-headed, so determined to make misery for himself. “It is in case of trouble—if anything happened,” he said incoherently. “If he married you, it would be his duty to take you away from here at once. No one could think the worse of him for it.”
“Except his wife. That wouldn’t signify, of course. And you still think I would escape and leave Eirene here?”
“Oh, the Princess and Con would go too, naturally.”
“Very naturally. And you and Maurice?”
“Oh, you know what your brother is. I should stay with him, of course.”