The man glanced
up at me with his blue English eyes, but so deep was he in his
talk that he paid no heed to me, nor did the lady say a word.
She still leaned back, her beautiful pale face gazing up at him.
He was a good-looking fellow--tall, and strong, and brown; a pang
of jealousy seized me as I looked at him. He was talking low and
fast, as the English do when they are in earnest.
"I tell you, Jinny, it's you and only you that I love," said he.
"Don't bear malice, Jinny. Let by-gones be by-gones. Come now,
say it's all over."
"No, never, George, never!" she cried.
A dusky red suffused his handsome face. The man was furious.
"Why can't you forgive me, Jinny?"
"I can't forget the past."
"By George, you must! I've asked enough. It's time to order
now. I'll have my rights, d'ye hear?" His hand closed upon her
wrist.
At last my breath had returned to me.
"Madame," I said, as I raised my hat, "do I intrude, or is there
any possible way in which I can be of service to you?"
But neither of them minded me any more than if I had been a fly
who buzzed between them.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190