Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/208

196 At last:

'You don't—care—what—I do?' she repeated in amazement.

'No,' I said 'You may go to the devil as soon as you please.'

Silence. I reading.

At last I said:

'The Professor, you see, came over later than I thought he would.'

A pause.

I felt her hand on my knee.

'Are you joking?' she asked.

'Joking?' said I, lowering the book and looking at her with surprise, 'Not the least in the world. I said I didn't care what you did. I don't. You remember my agreement with you? You were to take half the money and leave me the moment you tired of me. I have come to the conclusion that it's only fair for me to be able to do the same with you. I'm tired of you.' I lifted up the book and continued my reading.

In a little she rose and went to the fire-place. I read on. She made no sign of life. A sudden idea came to me that she had fainted—nay, was dead! I lowered my book: saw her gazing over the table into the air: got up, throwing the book on to the table by the candle, and said slowly: 'Well, my dear, let's part good friends at the least. It was a blunder our acquaintance, but there is no ill-feeling on either side; eh? In token whereof we will spend one more night together, and then—part?…' Silence; she still gazing over the table into the air. I advanced, and recognised that I desired her, which made me laugh. It was the first time I had recognised the fact. She answered nothing: made no motion. A sudden feeling of the cruelty of my experiment seemed to bite me. I had not thought of it in that way: cruelty. I at once began to undo my sewing:

'Well, Rosebud,' said I, taking her two little still hands in mine, 'You little duffer, what are you thinking about?'

At last she looked at me; looked in my eyes long, till I laughed.