第53部分(第4/7 页)

ry　and　be　sulky　if　necessary—for　the　sake　of　a　mere　essay　of　my　power？”

“I　dare　you　to　any　such　experiment。　Encroach；　presume；　and　the　game　is　up。”

“Is　it；　sir？　You　soon　give　in。　How　stern　you　look　now！　Your　eyebrows　have　bee　as　thick　as　my　finger；　and　your　forehead　resembles　what；　in　some　very　astonishing　poetry；　I　once　saw　styled；　‘a　blue…piled　thunderloft。’　That　will　be　your　married　look；　sir；　I　suppose？”

“If　that　will　be　your　married　look；　I；　as　a　Christian；　will　soon　give　up　the　notion　of　consorting　with　a　mere　sprite　or　salamander。　But　what　had　you　to　ask；　thing；—out　with　it？”

“There；　you　are　less　than　civil　now；　and　I　like　rudeness　a　great　deal　better　than　flattery。　I　had　rather　be　a　thing　than　an　angel。　This　is　what　I　have　to　ask；—Why　did　you　take　such　pains　to　make　me　believe　you　wished　to　marry　Miss　Ingram？”

“Is　that　all？　Thank　God　it　is　no　worse！”　And　now　he　unknit　his　black　brows；　looked　down；　smiling　at　me；　and　stroked　my　hair；　as　if　well　pleased　at　seeing　a　danger　averted。　“I　think　I　may　confess；”　he　continued；　“even　although　I　should　make　you　a　little　indignant；　Jane—and　I　have　seen　what　a　fire…spirit　you　can　be　when　you　are　indignant。　You　glowed　in　the　cool　moonlight　last　night；　when　you　mutinied　against　fate；　and　claimed　your　rank　as　my　equal。　Ja；　by…the…bye；　it　was　you　who　made　me　the　offer。”

“Of　course　I　did。　But　to　the　point　if　you　please；　sir—Miss　Ingram？”

“Well；　I　feigned　courtship　of　Miss　Ingram；　because　I　wished　to　render　you　as　madly　in　love　with　me　as　I　was　with　you；　and　I　knew　jealousy　would　be　the　best　ally　I　could　call　in　for　the　furtherance　of　that　end。”

“Excellent！　Now　you　are　small—not　one　whit　bigger　than　the　end　of　my　little　finger。　It　was　a　burning　shame　and　a　scandalous　disgrace