Part 22 (1/2)
”To all intents and purposes, otten?” she persisted
”It will always stand in the way, mademoiselle”
He supposed that h his brain thruht: ”It is for dick's sakefor dick's sake For dick's sake you ether
”It will stand in the wayof what?” asked Diana
”I can never ask a woman to be my wife,” he replied
Diana wantonly stripped a rose of its petals, letting each fragrant leaf flutter slowly to the ground
”I do not see why you cannot, sir”
”No worace”
”No?”
”No”
”You seem very certain, Mr Carr Pray have you asked the lady?”
”No, mada himself well in hand
”Then-” the husky voice was very low, ”thenwhy don't you?”
The slihtly, she observed In his pale face the blue eyes burnt dark
”Because, madam, 'twere the action of a-of a-”
”Of a what, Mr Carr?”
”A cur! A scoundrel! A blackguard!”
Another rose was sharing the fate of the first
”I have heard it said that souards,” reh her lashes its oatched ainst the tree-bark
”Not the lady I love, madam”
”Oh? But are you sure?”
”I am sure She must marry a man whose honour is spotless; who is nota nahway robbery”
He knew that the brown eves were glowing and sparkling with unshed tears, but he kept his own turned inexorably the other way There was no doubting now that she cared, and that she knew that he did also He could not leave her to think that her love had been slighted She must not be hurt, but made to understand that he could not declare his love But how hard it ith her sorrowful gaze upon hi now: ”Must she, sir?”
”Yes,the lady did not care? Supposing sheloved youand illing to share your disgrace?”
The ground at her feet was streith crimson petals, and all around and above her roses nodded and swayed A tiny breeze was stirring her curls and the lace of her frock, but John would not allow himself to look, lest the tereat for hi, only to be with hie she offered herself to him, and he had to reject her
”It is inconceivable that the lady would sacrifice herself in such a fashi+on, ht her breath ”You call it that!”
”What else?”
”III do not think that you are very wise, Mr Carr Northat you
understand woht not call it by that name”
”It would make no difference what she called it, madam She would ruin her life, and that must never be”
A white rose joined its fallen brethren, pulled to pieces by fingers that trembled pitifully
”Mr Carr, if the ladyloved youis it quite fair to herto say nothing?”
There was a long silence, and then et me,” he said
Diana sat very still No more roses were destroyed; the breeze wafted the fallen petals over her feet, lightly, al, a full-throated sobbing plaint, and fro The sun sent its bright rays all over the garden, bathing it in gold and happiness; but for the two in the pleasaunce the light had gone out, and the world was very black
”I see,” whispered Diana at last ”Poor lady!”
”I think it was a cursed day that saw roaned
”Perhaps it was,” her hurt heart made answer He bowed his head
”I can only hope that she will not think too hardly of me,” he said, very low ”And that she will find it in her heart to be sorryfor mealso”
She rose and carass, holding out her hands ily
”Mr Carr”
He would not allow hiold-flecked eyesHe must remember dickhis brother dick!