Page:The Bostonians (London & New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886).djvu/143

 'No, all our wretched sisters—all our hopes and purposes—all that we think sacred and worth living for!'

'Oh, they don't want that, Olive.' Verena's smile became more distinct, and she added: 'They don't want so much as that!'

'Well, then, go in and speak for them—and sing for them—and dance for them!'

'Olive, you are cruel!'

'Yes, I am. But promise me one thing, and I shall be—oh, so tender!'

'What a strange place for promises,' said Verena, with a shiver, looking about her into the night.

'Yes, I am dreadful; I know it. But promise.' And Olive drew the girl nearer to her, flinging over her with one hand the fold of a cloak that hung ample upon her own meagre person, and holding her there with the other, while she looked at her, suppliant but half hesitating. 'Promise!' she repeated.

'Is it something terrible?'

'Never to listen to one of them, never to be bribed'

At this moment the house-door was opened again, and the light of the hall projected itself across the little piazza. Matthias Pardon stood in the aperture, and Tarrant and his wife, with the two other visitors, appeared to have come forward as well, to see what detained Verena.

'You seem to have started a kind of lecture out here,' Mr. Pardon said. 'You ladies had better look out, or you'll freeze together!'

Verena was reminded by her mother that she would catch her death, but she had already heard sharply, low as they were spoken, five last words from Olive, who now abruptly released her and passed swiftly over the path from the porch to her waiting carriage. Tarrant creaked along, in pursuit, to assist Miss Chancellor; the others drew Verena into the house. 'Promise me not to marry!'—that was what echoed in her startled mind, and repeated itself there when Mr. Burrage returned to the charge, asking her if she wouldn't at least appoint some evening when they might listen to her. She knew that Olive's injunction ought not to have surprised her; she had already felt it in the