He hesitated. "Yes," he said courageously.
Her eyes cried, "David, how could you be so cruel!" but they did not
daunt him.
"Have you not seen it yourself, Grizel?" he said.
She pressed her hands together. "I was so happy," she said, "until you
came!"
"Have you not seen it yourself?" he asked again.
"There may be better things," she retorted, "than those you rate so
highly."
"Not for you," he said.
"If they are gone," she told him, with a flush of resentment, "it is
not you who can bring them back."
"But let me try, Grizel," said he.
"David, can I not even make you angry with me?"
"No, Grizel, you can't. I am very sorry that I can make you angry with
me."
"I am not," she said dispiritedly. "It would be contemptible in me."
And then, eagerly: "But, David, you have made a great mistake, indeed
you have. You--you are a dreadful bungler, sir!" She was trying to
make his face relax, with a tremulous smile from herself to encourage
him; but the effort was not successful. "You see, I can't even bully
you now!" she said. "Did that capacity go with the others, David?"
"Try a little harder," he replied. "I think you will find that I
submit to it still"
"Very well.
Pages:
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304