第55部分(第5/7 页)

。”

“Oh；　all　he　longed；　all　he　prayed　for；　was　that　I　might　live　with　him！　Death　was　not　for　such　as　I。”

“Indeed　it　was：　I　had　as　good　a　right　to　die　when　my　time　came　as　he　had：　but　I　should　bide　that　time；　and　not　be　hurried　away　in　a　suttee。”

“Would　I　forgive　him　for　the　selfish　idea；　and　prove　my　pardon　by　a　reconciling　kiss？”

“No：　I　would　rather　be　excused。”

Here　I　heard　myself　apostrophised　as　a　“hard　little　thing；”　and　it　was　added；　“any　other　woman　would　have　been　melted　to　marrow　at　hearing　such　stanzas　crooned　in　her　praise。”

I　assured　him　I　was　naturally　hard—very　flinty；　and　that　he　would　often　find　me　so；　and　that；　moreover；　I　was　determined　to　show　him　divers　rugged　points　in　my　character　before　the　ensuing　four　weeks　elapsed：　he　should　know　fully　what　sort　of　a　bargain　he　had　made；　while　there　was　yet　time　to　rescind　it。

“Would　I　be　quiet　and　talk　rationally？”

“I　would　be　quiet　if　he　liked；　and　as　to　talking　rationally；　I　flattered　myself　I　was　doing　that　now。”

He　fretted；　pished；　and　pshawed。　“Very　good；”　I　thought；　“you　may　fume　and　fidget　as　you　please：　but　this　is　the　best　plan　to　pursue　with　you；　I　am　certain。　I　like　you　more　than　I　can　say；　but　I’ll　not　sink　into　a　bathos　of　sentiment：　and　with　this　needle　of　repartee　I’ll　keep　you　from　the　edge　of　the　gulf　too；　and；　moreover；　maintain　by　its　pungent　aid　that　distance　between　you　and　myself　most　conducive　to　our　real　mutual　advantage。”

From　less　to　more；　I　worked　him　up　to　considerable　irritation；　then；　after　he　had　retired；　in　dudgeon；　quite　to　the　other　end　of　the　room；　I　got　up；　and　saying；　“I　wish　you　good…night；　sir；”　in　my　natural　and　wonted　respectful　manner；　I　slipped　out　by　the　side…door　and　got　away。

The　system　thu