Hegropedbacktohischair，hischestlabouringashesatdown。
Maisiewatchedhim，andthefearwentoutofherheart，tobefollowedbyaverybittershameHehadspokenatruththathadbeenhiddenfromthegirlthrougheverystepoftheimpetuousflighttoLondon；forhewas，indeed，downanddonefor——masterfulnolongerbutratheralittleabject；
neitheranartiststrongerthanshe，noramantobelookedupto——onlysomeblindonethatsatinachairandseemedonthepointofcryingShewasimmenselyandunfeignedlysorryforhim——moresorrythanshehadeverbeenforanyoneinherlife，butnotsorryenoughtodenyhiswords。
Soshestoodstillandfeltashamedandalittlehurt，becauseshehadhonestlyintendedthatherjourneyshouldendtriumphantly；andnowshewasonlyfilledwithpitymoststartlinglydistinctfromlove。
’Well？’saidDick，hisfacesteadilyturnedaway’InevermeanttoworryyouanymoreWhat’sthematter？’
HewasconsciousthatMaisiewascatchingherbreath，butwasasunpreparedasherselfforthetorrentofemotionthatfollowedShehaddroppedintoachairandwassobbingwithherfacehiddeninherhands。
’Ican’t——Ican’t！’shecrieddesperately’Indeed，Ican’tItisn’tmyfault。
I’msosorryOh，Dickie，I’msosorry。’
Dick’sshouldersstraightenedagain，forthewordslashedlikeawhip。
StillthesobbingcontinuedItisnotgoodtorealisethatyouhavefailedinthehouroftrialorflinchedbeforethemerepossibilityofmakingsacrifices。
’Idodespisemyself——indeedIdoButIcan’tOh，Dickie，youwouldn’taskme——wouldyou？’wailedMaisie。
Shelookedupforaminute，andbychanceithappenedthatDick’seyesfellonhersTheunshavenfacewasverywhiteandset，andthelipsweretryingtoforcethemselvesintoasmileButitwastheworn-outeyesthatMaisiefearedHerDickhadgoneblindandleftinhisplacesomeonethatshecouldhardlyrecognisetillhespoke。
’Whoisaskingyoutodoanything，Maisie？Itoldyouhowitwouldbe。
What’stheuseofworrying？Forpity’ssakedon’tcrylikethat；itisn’tworthit。’
’Youdon’tknowhowIhatemyselfOh，Dick，helpme——helpme！’
ThepassionoftearshadgrownbeyondhercontrolandwasbeginningtoalarmthemanHestumbledforwardandputhisarmroundher，andherheadfellonhisshoulder。
’Hush，dear，hush！Don’tcryYou’requiteright，andyou’venothingtoreproachyourselfwith——youneverhadYou’reonlyalittleupsetbythejourney，andIdon’tsupposeyou’vehadanybreakfastWhatabruteTorpwastobringyouover。’
’IwantedtocomeIdidindeed，’sheprotested。
’VerywellAndnowyou’vecomeandseen，andI’m——immenselygrateful。
Whenyou’rebetteryoushallgoawayandgetsomethingtoeat。
Whatsortofapassagedidyouhavecomingover？’
Maisiewascryingmoresubduedly，forthefirsttimeinherlifegladthatshehadsomethingtoleanagainstDickpattedherontheshouldertenderlybutclumsily，forhewasnotquitesurewherehershouldermightbe。
Shedrewherselfoutofhisarmsatlastandwaited，tremblingandmostunhappyHehadfelthiswaytothewindowtoputthewidthoftheroombetweenthem，andtoquietalittlethetumultinhisheart。
’Areyoubetternow？’hesaid。
’Yes，but——don’tyouhateme？’
’Ihateyou？MyGod！I？’
’Isn’t——isn’tthereanythingIcoulddoforyou，then？I’llstayhereinEnglandtodoit，ifyoulikePerhapsIcouldcomeandseeyousometimes。’
’Ithinknot，dearItwouldbekindestnottoseemeanymore，pleaseI
don’twanttoseemrude，but——don’tyouthink——perhapsyouhadalmostbettergonow。’
Hewasconsciousthathecouldnotbearhimselfasamanifthestraincontinuedmuchlonger。
’Idon’tdeserveanythingelseI’llgo，DickOh，I’msomiserable。’
’NonsenseYou’venothingtoworryabout；I’dtellyouifyouhad。
Waitamoment，dearI’vegotsomethingtogiveyoufirstImeantitforyoueversincethislittletroublebe...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：