Man and Maid

I could see that she was controlling herself with all her will, and that

she was overwrought and intensely troubled. I knew that some barrier was

between us which I could not at present surmount. All she said after a

minute was: "How did you know that my name was 'Alathea'?"

"I heard your little sister call you that the day I saw you in the

Bois. I think it a very beautiful name."

Silence.

Her discomfort seemed to come to a climax, for after a little she spoke.

"The twenty-five thousand francs beyond the twenty-five I asked you for,

I cannot return to you. I feel very much about it, and that you should

pay for my clothes, and give me presents. It is the hardest thing I ever

had to do in my life,--to take all this."

"Do not let it bother you, I am quite content with the bargain. Perhaps

you would rather go now after we have selected which room you will

have."

"Thank you."

She gave me my crutch, and I led the way and she followed. I knew

instinctively that she would choose the room which was furthest from

mine. She did!

"This will do," she said immediately we entered it.

"The look-out is not so nice, it only gets the early morning sun," I

ventured to remark.

"It is quieter."

"Very well."

"It was rather arranged for a man, and is perhaps severe. Do you wish

anything changed?"

She did not appear to take any more interest in it than if it had been a

hotel room. She had given it the merest glance, although it is quite a

little masterpiece in its way, of William and Mary--even the panelling

being English, and of the time, and the old rose silk window and bed

curtains.

"I don't want anything altered, thank you."

It seemed a strange moment, to be talking thus calmly to the woman who,

in a fortnight, will be my wife. I feel that a volcano is really working

under our feet, and that adds to the excitement!

When we got back to the sitting-room I offered to send the carriage for

her to go and do her shopping, but she refused, and I thought it was

wiser to let her go. We shall have years to talk in presently, and there

is always the danger of our coming to an open rupture, and the bargain

being off, if we see much of one another now.

"Good-bye," she said a little nervously, and I bowed and said

"Good-bye," and she went from the room.