"And I--I didn't want you to fall in love with me at first sight.And yet--perhaps I did! But Ihadn't thought of things in that way.I had just the same feeling for you that I always had--always! I had never cared so much for any one else, and it seemed to me the most necessary thing in my life to come back to that old companionship--Don't you remember--it used to trouble you so when I would take your hand? I think I loved your being a little rough with me.And once, when I saw how you had been hurt, that day you ran away--""Ariel!" he gasped, helplessly.
"Have you forgotten?"
He gathered himself together with all his will.
"I want to prove to you," he said, resolutely, "that the dear kindness of you isn't thrown away on me; I want you to know what I began to say:
that it's all right with me; and I think Ladew--"He stopped again."Ah! I've seen how much he cares for you--""Have you?""Ariel," he said, "that isn't fair to me, if you trust me.You could not have helped seeing--""But I have not seen it," she interrupted, with great calmness.After having said this, she finished truthfully: "If he did, I would never let him tell me.I like him too much.""You mean you're not going to--"Suddenly she turned to him."NO!" she said, with a depth of anger he had not heard in her voice since that long-ago winter day when she struck Eugene Bantry with her clenched fist.