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Iwassurprisedandmoved.OncemoreIhadamomentaryglimpseoftherealNancy
OurconversationwasinterruptedbythearrivalofRalphHambleton
XIV.
However,thoughtsofMaudecontinuedtopossessme.Shestillappearedthemostdesirableofbeings,andafortnightaftermyrepulse,withoutanyexcuseatall,ItelegraphedtheGeorgeHutchinsesthatIwascomingtopaythemavisit.Mrs.George,wearingaknowingsmile,metmeatthestationinalightbuck-board.
"I\'veaskedMaudetodinner,"shesaid
ThuswithmasculinedirectnessIreturnedtothecharge,andMaude\'scontinuedresistancebutincreasedmyardour;couldnotseewhyshecontinuedtoresistme.
"BecauseIdon\'tloveyou,"shesaid.
Thiswasincredible.Isuggestedthatshedidn\'tknowwhatlovewas,andsheadmitteditwaspossible:shelikedmevery,verymuch.Itoldher,sagely,thatthiswasthebestfoundationformatrimony.Thatmightbe,butshehadhadotherideas.Foronething,shefeltthatshedidnotknowmeInshort,shewascharmingandmaddeninginherdefensiveruses,inheradvancesandretreats,forIpressedherhardduringthefourweekswhichfollowed,andinthemmadefourvisits.Flingingcautiontothewinds,IdidnotevenpretendtoGeorgethatIwascomingtoseehimonbusiness.IhadtheHutchinsfamilyonmyside,fortheyhadthesensetoseethatthematchwouldbeanadvantageousone;IevensummonedupenoughcouragetotalktoEzraHutchinsonthesubject.
"I\'llnotattempttoinfluenceMaude,Mr.Paret——I\'vealwayssaidI
wouldn\'tinterferewithherchoice.Butasyouareayoungmanofsoundhabits,sir,successfulinyourprofession,Ishouldraisenoobjection.
Isupposewecan\'tkeepheralways."
Toconcealhisemotion,hepulledoutthewatchhelivedby."Why,it\'schurchtime!"hesaidIattendedchurchregularlyatElkington
OnaSundaynightinJune,followingadayduringwhichvictoryseemedmoredistantthanever,withstartlingunexpectednessMaudecapitulated.
Shesatbesidemeonthebench,obscured,yetthewarmnightquiveredwithherpresence.IfelthertrembleIrememberthefirstexquisitetouchofhersoftcheek.Howstrangeitwasthatinconquestthetumultofmybeingshouldbestilled,thatmypassionshouldbetransmutedintoawethatthrilledyetdisquieted!WhathadIdone?ItwasasthoughIhadsuddenlyenteredanunimaginedsanctuaryfilledwithholyflame
Presently,whenwebegantotalk,Ifoundmyselfseekingmorefamiliarlevels.Iaskedherwhyshehadsolongresistedme,accusingherofhavinglovedmeallthetime.
"Yes,IthinkIdid,Hugh.Only——Ididn\'tknowit."
"Youmusthavefeltsomething,thatafternoonwhenIfirstproposedtoyou!"
"Youdidn\'treallywantme,Hugh.Notthen."
Surprised,andalittleuncomfortableatthisevidenceofintuition,I
startedtoprotest.ItseemedtomethenasthoughIhadalwayswantedher.
"No,no,"sheexclaimed,"youdidn\'t.Youwerecarriedawaybyyourfeelings——youhadn\'tmadeupyourmind.Indeed,Ican\'tseewhyyouwantmenow."
"YoubelieveIdo,"Isaid,anddrewhertowardme.
"Yes,I——Ibelieveit,now.ButIcan\'tseewhy.Theremustbesomanyattractivegirlsinthecity,whoknowsomuchmorethanIdo."
IsoughtfervidlytoreassureheronthispointAtlengthwhenwewentintothehouseshedrewawayfrommeatarm\'slengthandgavemeonelongsearchinglook,asthoughseekingtoreadmysoul.
"Hugh,youwillalwaysloveme——totheveryend,won\'tyou?"
"Yes,"Iwhispered,"always."
Inthelibrary,oneoneachsideofthetable,underthelamp,EzraHutchinsandhiswifesatreading.Mrs.Hutchinslookedup,andIsawthatshehaddivined.
"Mother,IamengagedtoHugh,"Maudesaid,andbentoverandkissedher.
EzraandIstoodgazingatthem.Thenheturnedtomeandpressedmyhand.
"Well,Ineversawthemanwhowasgoodenoughforher,Hugh.ButGodblessyou,myson.Ihopeyouwillprizeherasweprizeher."
Mrs.Hutchinsembracedme.Andthroughhertearsshe,too,lookedlongintomyface.WhenshehadreleasedmeEzrahadhiswatchinhishand.
"Ifyou\'regoingontheteno\'clocktrain,Hugh——"
"Father!"Maudeprotested,laughing,"ImustsayIdon\'tcallthatverypolite."
InthetrainIsleptbutfitfully,awakeningagainandagaintorecalltheextraordinaryfactthatIwasnowengagedtobemarried,togoovertheincidentsoftheevening.Indifferenttothebackingsandthebumpingsofthecar,thevoicesinthestations,theclangingoflocomotivebellsandalltheincomprehensiblestartingsandstoppings,exaltedyettroubledIbeheldMaudeluminouswiththeloveIhadamazinglyawakened,alovesomewherebeyondmycomprehension.Forherindeedmarriagewasmadeinheaven.Butforme?CouldIrisenowtotheidealthathadoncebeenmine,thrusthencefortheviloutofmylife?
Loveforever,livealwaysinthissanctuaryshehadmadeforme?WouldthetimecomewhenIshouldfeelasenseofbondage?
TheweddingwassetfortheendofSeptember.IcontinuedtogoeveryweektoElk
