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Man and Maid

Page 184

I gazed and gazed at her.

"And you hate me," I said as coolly as I could "and let me buy you, so

that you could save your family.--Your sacrifice was immense."

Suddenly she looked straight up at me, her eyes filled with passion, so

that wild fire kindled in my blood.

"Nicholas,--I do not hate you."

I took both her hands and drew her to me, while outside in the street

they were singing the Marseillaise and yelling for joy.

"Alathea, tell me the truth, what then do you feel?"

"I don't know. I wanted to murder Suzette. I could have drowned

Coralie.--Perhaps you can tell me,--here in your arms--!"

And with wild abandon she fell forward into my fond embrace.

Ah! God! The bliss of the next few moments with her soft lips pressed to

mine! Then I could not repeat often enough that I loved her, nor make

her tell me how she loved me in return!

Afterwards, I grew masterful and ordered her to recount to me everything

from the very beginning.

Yes, she had been attracted by me from the first day, but she hated the

friends I had round me, and she did not like the aimlessness of my life.

"Whenever I used to be growing too contemptous though, Nicholas, I used

to remember the V.C., and then the feeling went off, but I was growing

angrier and angrier with myself, because in spite of believing you only

thought of me as one of them, I could not prevent myself from loving

you. There is something about you that made one forget all about your

leg and your eye!"

"Those cheques disgusted you!" and I kissed the little curl by her

ear--she was clasped close to me now.--"That was the beginning of my

determination to conquer you and have you for my own!"

She caressed my hair.

"I adore thick hair, Nicholas," she whispered, "but now you have had

enough flattery! I am off to dress!"

She struggled and pretended she wanted to leave me, but I would not let

her go.

"Only when I please and at a price! I want to show you that you have a

husband who in spite of a wooden leg and a glass eye, is a powerful

brute!"

"I love you,--strong like that," she cooed, her eyes soft with passion

again. "I am not good really,--or austere,--or cold."

And I knew it was true as she paid the toll!

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