Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/391

 His friend waited a little. "Have you absolutely no affection for her?"

He placed his hand on his heart and held it there a moment. "Dead—dead—dead!"

"I wonder," Rowland presently observed, "if you really know what a charming girl she is. She 's an awfully charming girl."

"Evidently—or I should never have cared for her."

"She has completely ceased then to interest you in any way?"

"Oh, don't force a fellow to say base things!"

"Well, I can only say that you don't know what you 're giving up."

Roderick gave a quickened glance. "Do you know so well?"

"You must admit that you 've allowed me time to find out."

Roderick smiled almost sympathetically. "Well, you have n't wasted it!"

Rowland's thoughts were crowding upon him fast. If Roderick was resolute why should he be gainsaid? If Mary was to be sacrificed why in that way try to save her? There was another way; it only needed a little presumption to make it possible. Rowland tried to summon presumption to his aid; but whether it should come or not it was to find a particular consideration there before it. This presence consisted but of three words—only they were cogent. "For her sake—for her sake," it dumbly murmured; and Rowland resumed his argument. "I don't know what I would n't do," he said, "rather 357