off suddenly, with a catch in her voice. “Gee,” she whispered, half to herself, “I’ll be sorry when you go, George.”
He sprang up.
“Peggy!”
He seized her by the arm. He heard the quick intake of her breath.
“Peggy, listen!” He gripped her till she winced with pain. “I’m not going back. I’m never going back. I’m a cad, I’m a hound! I know I am. But I’m not going back. I’m going to stay here with you. I want you, Peggy. Do you hear? I want you!”
She tried to draw herself away, but he held her.
“I love you, Peggy! Peggy, will you be my wife?”
There was utter astonishment in her grey eyes. Her face was very white.
“Will you, Peggy?”
“You’re hurting me.”
He dropped her arm.
“Will you, Peggy?”
“No!” she cried.
He drew back.
“No!” she cried sharply, as if it hurt her to speak. “I wouldn’t play you such a mean trick. I’m too fond of you, George. There’s never been anybody just like you. You’ve been mighty good to me. I’ve never met a man who treated me like you. You’re the only real white man that’s ever happened to me, and I guess I’m not going to play you a low-down trick like spoiling your life. George, I thought you knew. Honest, I thought you knew. How did you think I lived in a swell place like this, if you didn’t know? How did you suppose everyone knew me at Rector’s? How did you think I’d managed to find out so much about Winfield Knight? Can’t you guess?”
She drew a long breath.
“I—”
He interrupted her hoarsely.
“Is there anyone now, Peggy?”
“Yes,” she said, “there is.”
“You don’t love him, Peggy, do you?”
“Love him?” She laughed bitterly. “No; I don’t love him.”
“Then come to me, dear,” he said.
She shook her head in silence. Rutherford sat down, his chin resting in his hands. She came across to him, and smoothed his hair.