Page:The Story of the Gadsbys - Kipling (1888).djvu/57

 CAPTAIN G.How could I help it? You were you, you know.

—Did you ever want to help it? Speak the truth?

(a twinkle in his eye).—I did, darling, just at the first. But only at the very first. (Chuckles.) I called you—stoop low and I'll whisper—"a little beast". Ho! Ho! Ho!

(taking him by the moustache and making him sit up).—"A—little—beast!" Stop laughing over your crime! And yet you had the—the—awful cheek to propose to me!

—I'd changed my mind then. And you weren't a little beast any more.

—Thank you, Sir! And when was I ever?

—Never! But that first day, when you gave me tea in that peach-coloured muslin gown thing, you looked—you did, indeed, dear—such an absurd little mite. And I didn't know what to say to you.

(twisting moustache).—So you said "little beast". Upon my word, Sir! I called you a "Crrrreature," but I wish now I had called you something worse.

(very meekly).—I apologize, but you're hurting me awf'ly. (Interlude.) You're welcome to torture me again on those terms.

—Oh, why did you let me do it?

(looking across valley).—No reason in particular, but—if it amused you or did you any good—you might—wipe those dear little boots of yours on me.

(stretching out her hands).—Don't! Oh don't! Philip, my King, please don't talk like that. It's how I feel. You're so much too good for me. So much too good!

—Me! I'm not fit to put my arm round you. (Puts it round.)

—Yes, you are. But I—what have I ever done?

—Given me a wee bit of your heart, haven't you, my Queen?