Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/258

Rh He ﬂushed to the roots of his thin hair. “Hopeless cases? That’s it, then—that’s my answer?”

They had reached the point where, at the farther edge of the straggling settlement, the tiled roof of the railway-station fronted the post-ofﬁce cupola; and the shriek of a whistle now reminded Justine that the spot was not propitious to private talk. She halted a moment before speaking.

“I have no answer to give you now but the one in my note—that I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“But if you’re sure of knowing tomorrow you must know now!”

Their eyes met, his eloquently pleading, hers kind but still impenetrable. “If I knew now, you should know too. Please be content with that,” she rejoined.

“How can I be, when a day may make sucH a difference? When I know that every inﬂuence about you is ﬁghting against me?”

The words ﬂashed a refracted light far down into the causes of her own uncertainty.

“Ah,” she said, drawing a little away from him, “I’m not so sure that I don’t like a ﬁght!”

“Is that why you won’t give in?” He moved toward her with a despairing gesture. “If I let you go now, you’re lost to me!”

She stood her ground, facing him with a quick lift of [ 242 ]