'You must please to remember that our skies are not always as

deep a blue as they are now. We have rain, and our leaves do

fall, and get sodden: though I think Helstone is about as perfect

a place as any in the world. Recollect how you rather scorned my

description of it one evening in Harley Street: "a village in a

tale."' 'Scorned, Margaret That is rather a hard word.' 'Perhaps it is. Only I know I should have liked to have talked to

you of what I was very full at the time, and you--what must I

call it, then?--spoke disrespectfully of Helstone as a mere

village in a tale.' 'I will never do so again,' said he, warmly. They turned the

corner of the walk.

'I could almost wish, Margaret----' he stopped and hesitated. It

was so unusual for the fluent lawyer to hesitate that Margaret

looked up at him, in a little state of questioning wonder; but in

an instant--from what about him she could not tell--she wished

herself back with her mother--her father--anywhere away from him,

for she was sure he was going to say something to which she

should not know what to reply. In another moment the strong pride

that was in her came to conquer her sudden agitation, which she

hoped he had not perceived. Of course she could answer, and

answer the right thing; and it was poor and despicable of her to

shrink from hearing any speech, as if she had not power to put an

end to it with her high maidenly dignity.

'Margaret,' said he, taking her by surprise, and getting sudden

possession of her hand, so that she was forced to stand still and

listen, despising herself for the fluttering at her heart all the

time; 'Margaret, I wish you did not like Helstone so much--did

not seem so perfectly calm and happy here. I have been hoping for

these three months past to find you regretting London--and London

friends, a little--enough to make you listen more kindly' (for

she was quietly, but firmly, striving to extricate her hand from

his grasp) 'to one who has not much to offer, it is true--nothing

but prospects in the future--but who does love you, Margaret,

almost in spite of himself. Margaret, have I startled you too

much? Speak!' For he saw her lips quivering almost as if she were

going to cry. She made a strong effort to be calm; she would not

speak till she had succeeded in mastering her voice, and then she

said: 'I was startled. I did not know that you cared for me in that

way. I have always thought of you as a friend; and, please, I

would rather go on thinking of you so. I don't like to be spoken

to as you have been doing. I cannot answer you as you want me to

do, and yet I should feel so sorry if I vexed you.' 'Margaret,' said he, looking into her eyes, which met his with

their open, straight look, expressive of the utmost good faith

and reluctance to give pain.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024