No, no, Mr Cyril, she pleaded. I can never listen to such words again. Think of your father and your mother. Mr Mallow would never forgive me if he knew I had listened to you like this.
Let him remain unforgiving, then, cried Cyril. As for my mother, she loves her son too well not to be ready to do anything to make him happy.
Pray, pray go, she moaned.
No, he said, sternly, I will not go. You torture me by your coldness, knowing what you do. Do you wish to drive me to despair?
I wish you to go and forget me, she cried, with spirit. As a gentleman, Mr Cyril, I ask you, is such a course as this manly?
He was silent for a few moments, glancing at her sidewise the while.
No, he said, it is neither manly nor gentlemanly, but what can you expect from a miserable wretch against whom all the world seems to turn? Always unsuccessful always hoping against hope, fighting against fate, I find, now I come home, that the little girl I always thought of when far away has blossomed into a beautiful woman. How, I know not, but I wake to the fact that she has made me love her idolise her think of her as the very essence of my being.
Mr Cyril, pleaded Sage; but he kept on.
A new life appears to open out to me, and my old recklessness and misery seem to drop away. I waken to the fact that there is something to live for something to rouse me to new effort, and to work for as an earnest man should work. I did not seek her out; I did not strive to love her, he continued, as if speaking to some one else; but her love seemed to come to me, to enweave itself with my every thought.
I will not listen, panted Sage, but her heart whispered, Luke never spoke to me like that.
I fought against it for a time, he went on, dreamily, for I said to myself this would be wronging her. She is engaged to another, and I should only make her unhappy and disturb the even tenor of her ways.
Which you have done, she cried, in piteous tones.
Do not blame me, he said, softly. I fought hard. I swore I would not think of you, and I crushed down what I told myself was my mad love within my breast; but when, by accident, I found that I was wrong, and that no engagement existed between you and Luke Ross
But there is, there is, she cried. Once more, Mr Cyril, pray leave me.
A few mere words of form, Sage. You do not love this man; and, besides, your relatives have not given their consent. Oh, listen
to me. Why should you condemn me to a life of reckless misery? You know how I have been drifting for years without an anchor to stay me. You are that anchor now. Let me cling to you for my fathers, my mothers sake; for if you cast me off, continue this cruel wrong, you drive me once more from home, to go floating aimlessly, without a chance of becoming a better man. You cannot be so harsh.
I cannot listen to you, she murmured. I tell you, he cried, that if you cast me off you condemn me to a life of misery and despair. Sage, dear Sage, he cried, catching her hand, I have been wild and foolish, but I have the making in me of a better man. Help me to live aright. You are so good, and pure, and sweet so wise and gentle. Be my guide and helpmate, and those at home will bless you. Am I always to plead in vain?
How can I look Luke Ross in the eyes again if I listen to such words as these?
Luke Ross? Am I to stand idly by and let Luke Ross, the cold, careless cynic, snatch you from my arms?
How dare you speak of him like that? she cried, angrily. He is all that is wise and good.
And worships you so dearly that he has gone away for three years, at least, to prove to you his love.
It is a great act of noble forbearance, she said, proudly, and you slander him by your words.
I hope I do, he said; but they were wrung from me by my misery and suffering. But no, I will not believe you can be so cruel to me. I know that I may hope.
They were nearing the gate leading into the great home field, and Sage, trembling and agitated to a terrible degree, hurried on, feeling that, once within sight of the house, Cyril Mallow would leave her. Her mind was confused, and the struggle going on between duty and inclination was terrible; while the knowledge that she was so weak and yielding towards her companion half maddened her for the time.
Why do you hurry on so? he pleaded. Am I to be driven away? Am I to leave home, and go anywhere that fate may drift me?
Oh, no, no, no, she moaned. This is too cruel to me. Pray, pray leave me now.
Then I may hope?
No, she cried, with a fresh accession of strength, as she laid her hand upon the gate; I have promised to be Luke Rosss wife.
His you shall never be, he said, in a hoarse whisper. You do not love him, and you shall not fling yourself away. Sage, you shall be mine, and
Well, young man, are you obliged to whisper what you say to my niece? Come, Sage, my girl, its time you were indoors.
Uncle! cried Sage, joyously, as she sprang to his side with a sigh of relief.
Yes, my girl, he said, coldly, it is uncle; and he stuck his thistle staff down into the soft earth, and leaned his hands upon the round top. You can go on, he continued; Im not coming home yet.