Man and Maid

She went dead white when I released her, she trembled, and in her turn

held on to the back of the chair--.

"How dare you!" she panted--"How dare you!--I will go this minute--You

are not a gentleman."

The reaction came to me--.

"That is it, I suppose--" I said hoarsely--"I am not a gentleman

underneath--the civilization is mere veneer--and the man breaks

through it--I have nothing to say--I was mad, that is all. You will have

to weigh up as to whether it is worth your while to stay with me or not.

I cannot judge of that. I can only assure you that I will try not to err

again--perhaps some day you will know how you have been making me suffer

lately--I shall go to my room now, and you can let me have your decision

in an hour or so--."

I could not move because my crutch had fallen to the floor out of my

reach--She stood in indecision for a moment and then she bent and picked

it up and gave it to me. She was still as white as a ghost. As I got to

the door I turned and said--.

"I apologize for having lost my self-control--I am ashamed of that--and

do not ask you to forgive me--Your staying or not is a business

arrangement. I give you my word I will try never to be so weak again."

She was gazing at me--For once I had taken the wind out of her sails--.

Then I bowed and hobbled on into my bedroom, shutting the door after me.

Here my courage deserted me. I got to the bed with difficulty and threw

myself down upon it and lay there, too filled with emotion to stir. The

thought tormenting me always. Have I burnt my boats--or is this only the

beginning of a new stage?

Time will tell.