"
"Meaning that you would refuse to go?" she asked, with a quiver that
might have been anger in her voice.
"Meaning," he responded quietly, "that though you might deny me
yourself, it might not be in your power to deny me the pleasure of
serving you."
"And is it not in my power?" she asked swiftly.
He was looking at her very intently.
"No," he said in his most deliberate drawl. "I don't think it is."
"But it is," she asserted, meeting his look with blazing eyes. "You
cannot possibly enter my service without my consent. And--and--I am not
going to consent to that mad scheme of yours."
"No?" he said.
"No," she repeated with emphasis. "You yourself are the obstacle, as I
said before. If--if you had not been in love with me, I might have
considered it. But--now--it is out of the question. Moreover," her eyes
shot suddenly downwards, as though to hide their fire, "I shall not want
that sort of protector now."
"No?" he said again, very softly this time. He was standing straight
before her, still closely watching her with that in his eyes that he had
never permitted there before.
"No!" she repeated once more, and again brokenly she laughed; then
suddenly raised her eyes to his, and gave him both her hands
impetuously, confidingly, yet with a certain shyness notwithstanding.
"I--I am going to marry again after all," she said, "if--if you will
have me.
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