becauseyou'resoexactlyasI'vethoughtofyou."
"Haveyouthoughtofmeoften?"
ThefireflashedtoJamie'seyes,anditwasonhislipstobreakoutpassionately,tellingherhowhehadlivedconstantlywithherrecollection,howshehadbeenmeatanddrinktohim,life,andbreath,andsoulbutherestrainedhimself.
"Sometimes,"heanswered,smiling.
Mrs.Wallacesmiled,too.
"Iseemtorememberthatyouvowedoncetothinkofmealways."
"Onevowsallsortsofthings."Hehopedshecouldnothearthetremblinginhisvoice.
"You'reverycool,friendJim—andmuchlessshythanyouusedtobe.Youwereaperfectmonsterofbashfulness,andyourconsciencewasamostalarminganimal.ItusedtofrightenmeoutofmywitsIhopeyoukeepitnowunderlockandkey,likethebeastsintheZoo."
Jameswastellinghimselfthatitwasfollytoremain,thathemustgoatonceandneverreturn.TherecollectionofMarycamebacktohim,inthestrawhatandthesoiledsergedress,sittinginthedining-roomwithhisfatherandmothershehadbroughtherknittingsoasnottowasteaminuteandwhiletheytalkedofhim,herneedlesclickedrapidlytoandfro.Mrs.Wallacewaslyinginalongchair,coiledupinaserpentine,characteristicattitudeeverymovementwaftedtohimtheoppressiveperfumesheworethesmileonherlips,thecaressofhereyes,weremaddening.Helovedhermoreeventhanhehadimaginedhislovewasafury,blindanddestroying.Herepeatedtohimselfthathemustfly,buttheheavinessinhislimbschainedhimtohersidehehadnowill,nostrengthhewasareed,bendingtoeverywordshespokeandtoeverylook.Herfascinationwasnothuman,thecalm,voluptuouslookofhereyeswastoocruelandshewaspoisedlikeaserpentabouttospring.
Atlast,however,Jameswasobligedtotakehisleave.
"I'vestayedanunconscionabletime."
"Haveyou?I'venotnoticedit."
Didshecareforhim?Hetookherhandtosaygood-bye,andthepressuresentthebloodracingthroughhisveins.Herememberedvividlythepassionateembraceoftheirlastfarewell.Hethoughtthenthatheshouldneverseeheragain,anditwasFatewhichhadcarriedhimtoherfeet.Oh,howhelongedn