Page:Margaret Sherwood--A Puritan in Bohemia.djvu/174

166 And I've told you that my feeling is inadequate."

"You are trying to reason it all out," cried Howard impatiently. "Why don't you follow instinct?"

"I do. You feel that it is right, I feel that it is wrong. Why should your feeling prevail?"

"Don't be logical! Logic isn't becoming in a woman," he answered with a laugh.

Anne's face grew wistful.

"You see, it would be cruel to you to consent when I don't care enough. Besides," she added, with changing mood, "I told you long ago that I am a deliberate egoist."

"The only perfect egoism lies in self-surrender. One can't fulfil one's personality all alone."

"That," said Anne, "almost wins me."

Striding up and down, Howard watched her as she worked. The penetrating odour of violets filled the room. He would always remember her as she looked now.