Part 37 (1/2)
”It wouldn't interest me.”
”Why not? You liked me before--before that happened, and, when you've forgiven me, there's no reason why you shouldn't like me again.”
”There's every reason.”
”My name's Windebank--Archibald Windebank. I'm in the service, and my home is Hayc.o.c.k Abbey, near Melkbridge--”
”You gave me your wrong name!” cried Mavis, who, now that she knew that the man was the friend of her early days, seized on any excuse to get away from him.
”But--”
”Don't follow me. Good-bye.”
She crossed the road. He came after her and seized her arm.
”Don't be a fool!” he cried.
”You've hurt me. You're capable of anything,” she cried.
”Rot!”
”Oh, you brute, to hurt a girl!”
”I've done nothing of the kind. It would almost have served you right if I had, for being such a little fool. Listen to me--you shall listen,” he added, as Mavis strove to leave him.
His voice compelled submission. She looked at him, to see that his face was tense with anger. She found that she did not hate him so much, although she said, as if to satisfy her conscience for listening to him:
”Do you want to insult me again?”
”I want to tell you what a fool you are, in chucking away a chance of lifelong happiness, because you're upset at what I did, when, finding you in that house, I'd every excuse for doing.”
”Lifelong happiness?” cried Mavis scornfully.
”You're a woman I could devote my life to. I want to know all about you. Oh, don't be a d.a.m.n little fool!”
”You're somebody: I'm a n.o.body. Much better let me go.”
”Of course if you want to--”
”Of course I do.”
”Then let me see you into a cab.”
”A cab! I always go by 'bus, when I can afford it.”
”Good heavens! Here, let me drive you home.”
”I shouldn't have said that. I'm overwrought to-night. When I'm in work, I'm ever so rich. I know you mean kindly. Let me go.”
”I'll do nothing of the kind. It's all very important to me. I'm going to drive you home.”