I want to talk to you,
Madaline. You evade me lest you should be compelled to speak to me; you
lower those beautiful eyes of yours, lest I should be made happy by
looking into them. If you find it possible to avoid my presence, to run
away from me, you do. I am sure to woo you, to win you, to make you my
sweet, dear wife--to make you happier, I hope, than any woman has ever
been before--and you try to evade me, fair, sweet, cruel Madaline!"
"I am afraid of you, Lord Arleigh," she said, little dreaming how much
the naive confession implied.
"Afraid of me! That is because you see that I am quite determined to win
you. I can easily teach you how to forget all fear."
"Can you?" she asked, doubtfully.
"Yes, I can, indeed, Madaline. Deposit those peaches in their green
leaves on the ground. Now place both your hands in mine."
She quietly obeyed the first half of his request as though she were a
child, and then she paused. The sweet face crimsoned again; he took her
hands in his.
"You must be obedient," he said. "Now look at me."
But the white lids drooped over the happy eyes.
"Look at me, Madaline," he repeated, "and say, 'Norman, I do love you.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227