Man and Maid

At luncheon we talked of the time of the Fronde--Alathea is so

wonderfully well read. I make dashes into all sorts of subjects, and

find she knows more of them than I do myself--What a mind she must have

to have acquired all this in her short twenty-three years.

"You are not thinking of leaving Paris, I hope when you move," I said as

we drank coffee. "I am going to begin another book directly this one is

finished."

"It is not yet decided," she answered abruptly.

"I could not write without you."

Silence.

"I would love to think that you took an interest in teaching me how to

be an author--."

The faintest shrug of the shoulders--.

"You don't take any interest?"

"No."

"Are not you very unkind?"-"No--If you have anything to complain of in my work I will listen

attentively and try and alter it."

"You will never allow the slightest friendship?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Why should I?"

"I must be grateful even that you ask a question, I suppose--Well, I

don't know quite myself why you should--You think I am a rotter--You

despise my character--you think my life is wasted and that--er--I have

undesirable friends."

Silence.

"Miss Sharp! you drive me crazy never answering--I can't think why you

like to be so provoking!" I was stung to exasperation.

"Sir Nicholas," and she put down her cup with displeasure--"If you will

not keep to the subject of work--I am sorry but I cannot stay as your

secretary."

Terror seized me--.

"I shall have to if you insist upon it--I suppose--but I am longing to

be friends with you--and I can't think why you should resent it so--We

are both English, we are both--unhappy--we are both lonely--."

Silence!-"Somehow I don't feel it is altogether because I am a revolting object

to look at that you are so unkind--you must have seen lots like me since

the war--."

"I am not unkind--I think you are--May I go to my work now?"

We rose from the table--And for a second she was so near to me the pent

up desire of weeks mastered me and the tantalization of the morning

overcame me so that a frantic temptation seized me--I could not resist

it--I put out one arm while I steadied myself with the other by the back

of a chair, and I drew her tiny body towards me, and pressed my lips to

her Cupid's bow of a mouth--And Oh God the pleasure of it--right or

wrong!