Fair Margaret - Page 156/206

He thrust his arm out across the way, resting his head against the

door-post. She started, almost nervously, and then stood still again

and looked at him.

'No,' he said, 'I shall not try to keep you, and the door is open. But

please don't say good-bye like that, as if we were not going to meet

soon.' 'It's not good for us to be alone together,' she said.

The words came by instinct, and acknowledged a weakness in herself.

After she had spoken, she was very sorry. His drawn face softened.

'That's why I forgive you,' she said, with sudden frankness, and a

blush reddened her cheeks under the fawn-coloured veil she had drawn

down again.

He took her hand, against her will and almost violently, but in an

instant his own was gentle again.

'Margaret!' His voice had a thrill in it.

'No,' she answered, but not roughly now, and scarcely trying to free

herself. 'No. I don't love you in the least. That is why I won't marry

you. There's something that draws me to you against my will

sometimes--yes, I know that! But I hate it, and I'm afraid of it. It's

not what I like in you, it's what I like least. It's something like

hypnotism, I'm sure. I'm ashamed of it, because it is what has made me

flirt with you. Yes, I have! I've flirted outrageously, except that

I've always told you that I never would marry you. I've been truthful

in that, at all events.' 'Do you think I reproach you?' 'You might have, this morning. Now we have each something to reproach

the other. We will forgive and say good-bye for a while. When we meet

again, that something I'm afraid of will be gone--perhaps--then

everything will be different. Now, good-bye.' He had held her hand all the time while she had been speaking. She

pressed his now, with an impulse of frank loyalty, and dropped it

suddenly.

'Do you mean that I may not even come and see you?' he asked.

'Not till after my début,' answered Margaret in a decided tone, for

she felt that she dominated him at last. 'You don't want me to be a

singer and I cannot help feeling your opposition. It disturbs me, as

the time comes near. Of course I can't hinder you from being there on

the first night----' 'No indeed!' 'And when you've heard me, and seen Gilda's head come out of the sack,

and when the curtain has gone down on Rigoletto's despair--why, then

you may come behind and congratulate me, especially if I've made a

failure! Till then I don't want to see you, please!' 'I cannot wait so long. It is nearly three weeks.' Margaret stood up very straight in the doorway, already past him and

free to go out.