Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/241

Rh "I said I did not like any one well enough to marry."

He flung her hand from him.

"You do, you do. You love him, you smile at him when you frown at me. I have seen it. You are always ready to go where he asks you, to talk and laugh with him. I see your face light up when he comes. It never does for me." The girl turned to go.

"You are rude and horrible," she said petulantly. "Anyway, I don't like you."

The poor fellow flung himself in her path, all the rage gone from him.

"Only stay, Maud. I am mad with jealousy, I am a brute. If you could only care a little for me, even a little, I would be so gentle with you, so tender. No one could love you as well as I do."

The girl burst into tears.

"I do not know who I care for," she sobbed.

"Come to me." The man stretched out his arms pleading. The girl hesitated, looked around. Some one was coming amongst the roses whistling. It was Ernest. He did not look at his brother's face, but at the girl's. She felt her tears dry under his hot gaze.