"Is that all? Is that all you have
to say to me?"
He gave a great start.
"Blix!" he exclaimed.
"Is that all? And you are going to let me go away from you for so
long, and say nothing more than that to me? You think you have
been so careful, think you have kept your secret so close! Condy,
don't you suppose I know? Do you suppose women are so blind? No,
you don't need to tell me; I know--I've known it--oh, for weeks!"
"You know--know--know what?" he exclaimed, breathless.
"That you have been pretending that you did not love me. I know
that you do love me--I know you have been trying to keep it from
me for fear it would spoil our good times, and because we had made
up our minds to be chums, and have 'no more foolishness.' Once--in
those days when we first knew each other--I knew you did not love
me when you said you did; but now, since--oh, since that afternoon
in the Chinese restaurant, remember?--I've known that you did love
me, although you pretended you didn't. It was the pretence I
wanted to be rid of; I wanted to be rid of it when you said you
loved me and didn't, and I want to be rid of it now when YOU
pretend not to love me and I KNOW you do," and Blix leaned back
her head as she spoke that "know," looking at him from under her
lids, a smile upon her lips. "It's the pretence that I won't
have," she added. "We must be sincere with each other, you and
I."
"Blix, do YOU love ME?"
Condy had risen to his feet, his breath was coming quick, his
cigarette was flung away, and his hands opened and shut swiftly.
Pages:
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196