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〃Rubbish； you said just now。 A novel。〃
〃That is； a lying story of two people who never existed； and who
would have acted very differently if they had existed。〃
〃Just so。〃
〃Could you not imagine something just as amusing for yourself？〃
〃Perhaps so； but it would be too much trouble。 Besides； cooking
takes away one's appetite for eating。 I should not relish stories
of my own confection。〃
〃Which volume are you at？〃
〃The third。〃
〃Then the hero and heroine are on the point of being united？〃
〃I really don't know。 This is one of your clever novels。 I wish
the characters would not talk so much。〃
〃No matter。 Two of them are in love with one another； are they
not？〃
〃Yes。 It would not be a novel without that。〃
〃Do you believe； in your secret soul； AgathaI take the liberty
of using your Christian name because I wish to be very solemndo
you really believe that any human being was ever unselfish enough
to love another in the story…book fashion？〃
〃Of course。 At least I suppose so。 I have never thought much
about it。〃
〃I doubt it。 My own belief is that no latter…day man has any
faith in the thoroughness or permanence of his affection for his
mate。 Yet he does not doubt the sincerity of her professions； and
he conceals the hollowness of his own from her； partly because he
is ashamed of it； and partly out of pity for her。 And she； on the
other side； is playing exactly the same comedy。〃
〃I believe that is what men do； but not women。〃
〃Indeed！ Pray do you remember pretending to be very much in love
with me once when〃
Agatha reddened and placed her palm on the step as if about to
spring up。 But she checked herself and said： 〃Stop； Mr。 Trefusis。
If you talk about that I shall go away。 I wonder at you！ Have you
no taste？'；
〃None whatever。 And as I was the aggrieved party on thatstay；
don't go。 I will never allude to it again。 I am growing afraid of
you。 You used to be afraid of me。〃
〃Yes； and you used to bully me。 You have a habit of bullying
women who are weak enough to fear you。 You are a great deal
cleverer than I； and know much more； I dare say； but I am not in
the least afraid of you now。〃
〃You have no reason to be； and never had any。 Henrietta； if she
were alive； could testify that it there is a defect in my
relations with women； it arises from my excessive amiability。 I
could not refuse a woman anything she had set her heart
uponexcept my hand in marriage。 As long as your sex are content
to stop short of that they can do as they please with me。〃
〃How cruel！ I thought you were nearly engaged to Gertrude。〃
〃The usual interpretation of a friendship between a man and a
woman！ I have never thought of such a thing； and I am sure she
never has。 We are not half so intimate as you and Sir Charles。〃
〃Oh； Sir Charles is married。 And I advise you to get married if
you wish to avoid creating misunderstandings by your
friendships。〃
Trefusis was struck。 Instead of answering； he stood； after one
startled glance at her； looking intently at the knuckle of his
forefinger。
〃Do take pity on our poor sex；〃 said Agatha maliciously。 〃You are
so rich； and so very clever； and really so nice looking that you
ought to share yourself with somebody。 Gertrude would be only too
happy。
Trefusis grinned and shook his head； slowly but emphatically。
〃I suppose _I_ should have no chance；〃 continued Agatha
pathetically。
〃I should be delighted； of course；〃 he replied with simulated
confusion； but with a lurking gleam in his eye that might have
checked her； had she noticed it。
〃Do marry me； Mr。 Trefusis；〃 she pleaded； clasping her hands in a
rapture of mischievous raillery。 〃Pray do。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Trefusis determinedly； 〃I will。〃
〃I am very sure you shan't；〃 said Agatha； after an incredulous
pause； springing up and gathering her skirt as if to run away。
〃You do not suppose I was in earnest； do you？〃
〃Undoubtedly I do。 _I_ am in earnest。〃
Agatha hesitated； uncertain whether he might not be playing with
her as she had just been playing with him。 〃Take care；〃 she said。
〃I may change my mind and be in earnest； too； and then how will
you feel； Mr。 Trefusis？〃
〃I think； under our altered relations； you had better call me
Sidney。〃
〃I think we had better drop the joke。 It was in rather bad taste；
and I should not have made it； perhaps。〃
〃It would be an execrable joke； therefore I have no intention of
regarding it as one。 You shall be held to your offer； Agatha。 Are
you in love with me？〃
〃Not in the least。 Not the very smallest bit in the world。 I do
not know anybody with whom I am less in love or less likely to be
in love。〃
〃Then you must marry me。 If you were in love with me； I should
run away。 My sainted Henrietta adored me； and I proved unworthy
of adorationthough I was immensely flattered。〃
〃Yes； exactly！ The way you treated your first wife ought to be
sufficient to warn any woman against becoming your second。〃
〃Any woman who loved me； you mean。 But you do not love me； and if
I run away you will have the advantage of being rid of me。 Our
settlements can be drawn so as to secure you half my fortune in
such an event。〃
〃You will never have a chance of running away from me。〃
〃I shall not want to。 I am not so squeamish as I was。 No； I do
not think I shall run away from you。〃
〃I do not think so either。〃
〃Well； when shall we be married？〃
〃Never；〃 said Agatha； and fled。 But before she had gone a step he
caught her。
〃Don't；〃 she said breathlessly。 〃Take your arm away。 How dare
you？〃
He released her and shut the door of the conservatory。 〃Now；〃 he
said； 〃if you want to run away you will have to run in the open。〃
〃You are very impertinent。 Let me go in immediately。〃
〃Do you want me to beg you to marry me after you have offered to
do it freely？〃
〃But I was only joking； I don't care for you；〃 she said； looking
round for an outlet。
〃Agatha；〃 he said； with grim patience； 〃 half an hour ago I had
no more intention of marrying you than of making a voyage to the
moon。 But when you made the suggestion I felt all its force in an
instant； and now nothing will satisfy me but your keeping your
word。 Of all the women I know； you are the only one not quite a
fool。〃
〃I should be a great fool if〃
〃If you married me； you were going to say； but I don't think so。
I am the only man； not quite an ass； of your acquaintance。 I know
my value； and yours。 And I loved you long ago； when I had no
right to。〃
Agatha frowned。 〃No；〃 she said。 〃There is no use in saying
anything more about it。 It is out of the question。〃
〃Come； don't be vindictive。 I was more sincere then than you
were。 But that has nothing to do with the present。 You have spent
our renewed acquaintance on the defensive against me； retorting
upon me； teasing and tempting me。 Be generous for once； and say
Yes with a good will。〃
〃Oh； I NEVER tempted you；〃 cried Agatha。 〃I did not。 It is not
true。〃 He said nothing； but offered his hand。 〃No； go away； I
will not。〃 He persisted； and she felt her power of resistance
suddenly wane。 Terror…stricken； she said hastily； 〃There is not
the least use in bothering me； I will tell yo