"He was one of the wisest, gentlest, and most lovable of all the
Stoics!" said I.
"Can a philosopher possibly be lovable, Peter?" Here I very
absent-mindedly took up a fork, but, finding her eye upon me,
laid it down again.
"You are very nervous, Peter, and very pale and worn and haggard,
and all because you habitually--overthink yourself; and indeed,
there is something very far wrong with a man who perseveringly
stirs an empty cup--with a fork!" And, with a laugh, she took my
cup and, having once more refilled it, set it before me.
"And yet, Peter--I don't think--no, I don't think I would have
you very much changed, after all."
"You mean that you would rather I remained the pedantic,
egotistical creature--"
"I mean, Peter, that, being a woman, I naturally love novelty,
and you are very novel--and very interesting."
"Thank you!" said I, frowning.
"And more contradictory than any woman!"
"Hum!" said I.
"You are so strong and simple--so wise and brave--and so very
weak and foolish and timid!"
"Timid?" said I.
"Timid!" nodded she.
"I am a vast fool!" I acknowledged.
"And I never knew a man anything like you before, Peter!"
"And you have known many, I understand?"
"Very many."
"Yes--you told me so once before, I believe."
"Twice, Peter; and each time you became very silent and gloomy!
Now you, on the other hand," she continued, "have known very few
women?"
"And my life has been calm and unruffled in consequence!"
"You had your books, Peter, and your horseshoes."
"My books and horseshoes, yes."
"And were content?"
"Quite content."
"Until, one day--a woman--came to you."
"Until, one day--I met a woman."
"And then--?"
"And then--I asked her to marry me, Charmian." Here there ensued
a pause, during which Charmian began to pleat a fold in the
tablecloth.
"That was rather--unwise of you, wasn't it?" said she at last.
"How unwise?"
"Because--she might--have taken you at your word, Peter."
"Do you mean that--that you won't, Charmian?"
"Oh dear, no! I have arrived at no decision yet how could I?
You must give me time to consider." Here she paused in her
pleating to regard it critically, with her head on one side. "To
be sure," said she, with a little nod, "to be sure, you need some
one to--to look after you--that is very evident!"