Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/154

Rh “Deserting them? Don’t you understand?”

“I understand that you’ve made Mr. Gaines and Truscomb angry—yes; but if I should insist on your staying”

Amherst felt the blood rush to his forehead. “No—no, it’s not possible!” he exclaimed, with a vehemence addressed more to himself than to her.

“Then what will happen at the mills?”

“Oh, some one else will be found—the new ideas are stirring everywhere. And if you’ll only come back here, and help my successor”

“Do you think they are likely to choose any one else with your ideas?” she interposed with unexpected acuteness; and after a short silence he answered: “Not immediately, perhaps; but in time—in time there will be improvements.”

“As if the poor people could wait! Oh, it’s cruel, cruel of you to go!”

Her voice broke in a throb of entreaty that went to his inmost ﬁbres.

“You don’t understand. It’s impossible in the present state of things that I should do any good by staying.”

“Then you refuse? Even if I were to insist on their asking you to stay, you would still refuse?” she persisted.

“Yes—I should still refuse.”

She made no answer, but moved a few steps nearer [ 138 ]