Then she put in a question. "Were those her
exact words?"
"Do I ever forget a syllable she says to me?"
"Don't be angry. I forgot what a ninny she has made of you. Well,
David, it is all as plain as my hand. The girl likes you--that is
all."
"The girl likes me? What do you mean? How can you say that? What sign
of liking is there?"
"There are two. She avoids you, and she has been rude to you."
"And those are signs of liking, are they?" said David, bitterly.
"Why, of course they are, stupid. Tell me, now, does she shun this
Captain Keely?"
"Kenealy. No."
"Does she shun Mr. Harvey?"
"Hardie. No."
"Does she shun Mr. Talboys?"
"Oh Eve, you break my heart--no! no! She shuns no one but poor David."
"Now think a little. Here are three on one sort of footing, and one on
a different footing; which is likeliest to be _the man,_ the one
or the three? You have gained a point since we were all together. She
_distinguishes_ you."
"But what a way to distinguish me. It looks more like hatred than
love, or liking either."
"Not to my eye. Why should she shun you? You are handsome, you are
good-tempered, and good company. Why should she be shy of you? She is
afraid of you, that is why; and why is she afraid of you? because she
is afraid of her own heart. That is how I read her. Then, as for her
snubbing you, if her character was like mine, that ought to go for
nothing, for I snub all the world; but this is a little queen for
politeness.
Pages:
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341