Beyond the Rocks

"It is because they have done nothing but order men, kill beasts, and

subjugate women for generations," she said to herself. "Lazy, naughty

darlings! If they came to our country and worked their brains a little,

they would soon lose that look. But it would be a pity," she

added--"yes, a pity."

"What are you thinking of?" asked Lord Bracondale, while she gazed at

him.

"I was thinking you are a beautiful, useless creature. Just like all

your nation. You think the world is made for you; in any case, all the

women and animals to kill are."

"What an abominable libel! But I am fond of both things--women and

animals to kill."

"And you class them equally--or perhaps the animals are ahead."

"Indeed not always," said Hector, reassuringly. "Some women have quite

the first place."

"You are too flattering!" retorted the widow. "Those sentiments are all

very well for your own poor-spirited, down-trodden women, but they won't

do for Americans! A man has to learn a number of lessons before he is

fitted to cope with them."

"Oh, tell me," said Hector.

"He has got to learn to wait, for one thing, to wait about for hours if

necessary, and not to lose his temper, because the woman can't make up

her mind to be in time for things, or to change it often as to where she

will dine. Then he has to learn to give up any pleasure of his own for

hers--and travel when she wants to travel, or stay home when she wants

to go alone. If he is an Englishman he don't have brains enough to make

the money, but he must let her spend what he has got how she likes, and

not interfere with her own."

"And in return he gets?"

"The woman he happens to want, I suppose." And the widow laughed,

showing her wonderfully preserved brilliant white teeth.

"You enunciate great truths, belle dame!" said Hector, "and your last

sentence is the greatest of all--'The woman he happens to want.'"

"Which brings us back to our muttons--in this case only a defenceless

baby lamb. Now tell me what you are here for, trying to cajole me with

your good looks and mock humility."

"I am here to ask you to help me to see her again, then," said Hector,

who knew when to be direct. "I have only met her three times, as you

know, but I have fallen in love, and she is going away next week, and

there is only one Paris in the world."