Thank heaven, I thought, Hughy doesn't know enough to be
deterred by two rejections, nor even by the gossip about Strathay. I
wished--it was wicked, of course--I wished I were his widow; but I was
determined not to repeat such folly as I had shown about the Earl.
"Very jolly," I repeated, "but you don't know what a coward I am; I
believe I'd be afraid."
"Aw, no, Miss Winship," he remonstrated; "afraid of the mobe? Aw, no; not
with me. I'll teach you how to run it, I do assuah you; awf'ly jolly that
would be."
"Why, yes; that would be nice, of course," I said; "but--"
Oh, how shall I tell the rest? I was afraid of the machine; I knew I could
never mount it, with his hand on the lever; I was just trying to refuse
without offending him.
"--I'm such a coward, really," I went on; I smiled painstakingly into his
stupid pink face that seemed suddenly to have grown pinker; and then I
felt my smile stiffen upon my lips, for he had whirled around on the piano
stool on which he was sitting, and he smiled back at me, but not as he
would have done in Mrs. Whitney's presence. He--he leered!
"You wouldn't be afraid, with me, y' know,--" was all he said, but he rose
as if to come nearer me.
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