ankreply,arethetruesignalsofpassion.EveninmyshortlifeIhadlearnedasmuchasthat—orhadinheriteditinthatracememorywhichwecallinstinct.
Gladyswasfullofeverywomanlyquality.Somejudgedhertobecoldandhardbutsuchathoughtwastreason.Thatdelicatelybronzedskin,almostorientalinitscoloring,thatravenhair,thelargeliquideyes,thefullbutexquisitelips,—allthestigmataofpassionwerethere.ButIwassadlyconsciousthatuptonowIhadneverfoundthesecretofdrawingitforth.However,comewhatmight,Ishouldhavedonewithsuspenseandbringmatterstoaheadto-night.Shecouldbutrefuseme,andbetterbearepulsedloverthananacceptedbrother.
Sofarmythoughtshadcarriedme,andIwasabouttobreakthelonganduneasysilence,whentwocritical,darkeyeslookedroundatme,andtheproudheadwasshakeninsmilingreproof."Ihaveapresentimentthatyouaregoingtopropose,Ned.Idowishyouwouldn'tforthingsaresomuchnicerastheyare."
Idrewmychairalittlenearer."Now,howdidyouknowthatIwasgoingtopropose?"Iaskedingenuinewonder.
"Don'twomenalwaysknow?Doyousupposeanywomanintheworldwasevertakenunawares?But—oh,Ned,ourfriendshiphasbeensogoodandsopleasant!Whatapitytospoilit!Don'tyoufeelhowsplendiditisthatayoungmanandayoungwomanshouldbeabletotalkfacetofaceaswehavetalked?"
"Idon'tknow,Gladys.Yousee,Icantalkfacetofacewith—withthestation-master."Ican'timaginehowthatofficialcameintothematterbutinhetrotted,andsetusbothlaughing."Thatdoesnotsatisfymeintheleast.Iwantmyarmsroundyou,andyourheadonmybreast,and—oh,Gladys,Iwant——"
Shehadsprungfromherchair,asshesawsignsthatIproposedtodemonstratesomeofmywants."You'vespoiledeverything,Ned,"shesaid."It'sallsobeautifulandnaturaluntilthiskindofthingcomesin!Itissuchapity!Whycan'tyoucontrolyourself?"
"Ididn'tinventit,"Ipleaded."It'snature.It'slove."
"Well,perhapsifbothlove,itmaybedifferent.Ihaveneverfeltit."
"Butyoumust—you,withyourbeauty,withyoursoul!Oh,Gladys,yo