That you were serious I did not think. I believed
you were simply flirting with me; that you meant no more by it than
you had meant before; and being forewarned, and therefore having
no fear that I should hurt myself more than you would, I entered
into it in the same spirit. Where there was so much to be anxious
about, it was a pleasure and relief. Had I met you elsewhere, and
under different circumstances, I think I should have come to love
you. A girl almost without experience and new to the world, as I
am, could hardly have helped doing so, I think. Had I thought you
were in earnest I should have acted differently; and if I have
deceived you by my manner I am sorry; but even had I loved you I
would not have consented to do the thing you ask me. You are going
on duty. You are going in the hope of obtaining aid for us. I should
be simply escaping while others stay, and I should despise myself
for the action. Besides; I do not think that even in that case my
uncle would have consented to my going with you."
"I am sure that he would," Forster broke in. "He would never be
mad enough to refuse you the chance of escape from such a fate as
may now await you."
"We need not discuss the question," she said. "Even if I loved you,
I would not go with you; and I do not love you."
"They have prejudiced you against me," he said angrily.
"They warned me, and they were right in doing so. Ask yourself if
they were not. Would you see a sister of yours running the risk
of breaking her heart without warning her? Do not be angry," she
went on, putting her hand on his arm.
Pages:
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372