"If I am not in the way," he said, confusedly, "I will wait, as
you kindly propose."
She noticed his embarrassment; she saw that he was strongly
restraining himself from looking at her again. Her own eyes
dropped to the ground as she made the discovery. Her speech
failed her; her heart throbbed faster and faster.
"If I look at him again" (was the thought in _her_ mind) "I shall
fall at his feet and tell him all that I have done!"
"If I look at her again" (was the thought in _his_ mind) "I shall
fall at her feet and own that I am in love with her!"
With downcast eyes he placed a chair for her. With downcast eyes
she bowed to him and took it. A dead silence followed. Never was
any human misunderstanding more intricately complete than the
misunderstanding which had now established itself between those
two.
Mercy's work-basket was near her. She took it, and gained time
for composing herself by pretending to arrange the colored wools.
He stood behind her chair, looking at the graceful turn of her
head, looking at the rich masses of her hair. He reviled himself
as the weakest of men, as the falsest of friends, for still
remaining near her--and yet he remained.
Pages:
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234