第65章

``You think I am not capable of caring! You think I am vain and shallow and idle.You refuse me all right to live, simply because I happen to live in surroundings you don't approve of.''

``I'm not such an egotistical ass as to imagine a woman of your sort could be genuinely in love with a man of my sort,'' replied he.``So, I'll see to it that we keep away from each other.Idon't wish to be tempted to do you mischief.''

She looked at him inquiringly.

But he did not explain.He said: ``And you are going now.And we shall not meet again except by accident.''

She gave a sigh of hopelessness.``I suppose I have lowered myself in your eyes by being so frank--by showing and speaking what I felt,'' she said mournfully.

``Not in the least,'' rejoined he.``A man who is anybody or has anything soon gets used to frankness in women.I could hardly have gotten past thirty, in a more or less conspicuous position, without having had some experience....and without learning not to attach too much importance to--to frankness in women.''

She winced again.``You wouldn't say those things if you knew how they hurt,'' she said.``If I didn't care for you, could Isit here and let you laugh at me?''

``Yes, you could,'' answered he.``Hoping somehow or other to turn the laugh upon me later on.But really I was not laughing at you.And you can spare yourself the effort of convincing me that you're sincere.'' He was frankly laughing at her now.

``You don't understand the situation--not at all.You fancy that I am hanging back because I am overwhelmed or shy or timid.Iassure you I've never been shy or timid about anything I wanted.

If I wanted you-- I'd--TAKE you.''

She caught her breath and shrank.Looking at him as he said that, calmly and confidently, she, for the first time, was in love--and was afraid.Back to her came Selma's warnings: ``One may not trifle with love.A woman conquers only by surrender.''

``But, as I said to you a while ago,'' he went on, ``I don't want you--or any woman.I've no time for marriage-- no time for a flirtation.And though you tempt me strongly, I like you too well to--to treat you as you invite.''

Jane sat motionless, stunned by the sudden turning of the tables.

She who had come to conquer--to amuse herself, to evoke a strong, hopeless passion that would give her a delightful sense of warmth as she stood safely by its bright flames--she had been conquered.

She belonged to this man; all he had to do was to claim her.

In a low voice, sweet and sincere beyond any that had ever come from her lips before, she said:

``Anything, Victor--anything--but don't send me away.''

And he, seeing and hearing, lost his boasted self- control.

``Go--go,'' he cried harshly.``If you don't go----'' He came round the table, seizing her as she rose, kissed her upon the lips, upon the eyes.``You are lovely--lovely!'' he murmured.

``And I who can't have flowers on my table or in sight when I've got anything serious to do--I love your perfume and your color and the wonderful softness of you----''

He pushed her away.``Now--will you go?'' he cried.

His eyes were flashing.And she was trembling from head to foot.

She was gazing at him with a fascinated expression.``Iunderstand what you meant when you warned me to go,'' she said.

``I didn't believe it, but it was so.''

``Go--I tell you!'' he ordered.

``It's too late,'' said she.``You can't send me away now--for you have kissed me.If I'm in your power, you're in my power, too.''

Moved by the same impulse both looked up the arbor toward the rear door of the house.There stood Selma Gordon, regarding them with an expression of anger as wild as the blood of the steppes that flowed in her veins.Victor, with what composure he could master, put out his hand in farewell to Jane.He had been too absorbed in the emotions raging between him and her to note Selma's expression.But Jane, the woman, had seen.As she shook hands with Victor, she said neither high nor low:

``Selma knows that I care.I told her the night of the riot.''

``Good-by,'' said Victor in a tone she thought it wise not to dispute.

``I'll be in the woods above the park at ten tomorrow,'' she said in an undertone.Then to Selma, unsmilingly: ``You're not interrupting.I'm going.'' Selma advanced.The two girls looked frank hostility into each other's eyes.Jane did not try to shake hands with her.With a nod and a forced smile of conventional friendliness upon her lips, she passed her and went through the house and into the street.

She lingered at the gate, opening and closing it in a most leisurely fashion--a significantly different exit from her furtive and ashamed entrance.Love and revolt were running high and hot in her veins.She longed openly to defy the world--her world.