"heaskedatlength.
"I'veneverknownasubwhowasn't.It'sthemostobjectionableofalltheirvicioushabits.Whatthen?"Shelookedathim,smilingsheknewverywellthepowerofherdarkeyes,fringedwithlonglashes."Don'tbesilly,"sheadded."Comeandseeme,andbringherphotograph,andyoushalltalktomefortwohoursabouther.Willyoucome?"
"It'sverykindofyou.Idon'tthinkIcan."
"Whynot?You'rereallyveryrude."
"I'mextremelybusy."
"Nonsense!Youmustcome.Don'tlookasifIwereaskingyoutodosomethingquitehorrible.Ishallexpectyoutotea."
Sheboundhimbyhisword,andJameswasforcedtogo.Whenheshowedthephotograph,Mrs.Pritchard-Wallacelookedatitwithacuriousexpression.Itwastheworkofacountryphotographer,awkwardandungainly,withtheheadstifflypoised,andtheeyeshardandfixedthegeneralimpressionwasungracefulanddevoidofcharm,Mrs.Wallacenoticedthecountryfashionofherclothes.
"It'sextraordinarythatsubalternsshouldalwaysgetengagedtothesamesortofgirl."
Jamesflushed,"It'snotaverygoodoneofher."
"Theyalwaysphotographbadly,"murmuredMrs.Wallace.
"She'sthebestgirlintheworld.Youcan'tthinkhowgood,andkind,andsimplesheissheremindsmealwaysofanEnglishbreeze."
"Idon'tlikeeastwindsmyself,"saidMrs.Wallace."ButIcanseeshehasallsortsofadmirablequalities."
"D'youknowwhyIcametoseeyouto-day?"
"BecauseIforcedyou,"saidMrs.Wallace,laughing.
"Icametosaygood-byeI'vegotamonth'sleave."
"Oh,butIshallbegonebythetimeyoucomeback."
"Iknow.Itisforthatreason."
Mrs.Wallacelookedathimquickly,hesitated,thenglancedaway.
"Isitsobadasthat?"
"Oh,don'tyouunderstand?"criedJames,breakingsuddenlyfromhisreserve."Imusttellyou.Ishallneverseeyouagain,anditcan'tmatter.Iloveyouwithallmyheartandsoul.Ididn'tknowwhatlovewastillImetyou.Godhelpme,itwasonlyfriendshipIhadforMary!Thisissodifferent.Oh,Ihatemyself!Ican'thelpitthemeretouchofyourhandsendsmemadwithpassion.Idaren'tseeyouagain—I'mnotablackguard.Iknowit'squitehopeless.AndI'vegivenmywordtoMary."
Thelookofherey