"Danny," he said, "why do you torment me so? You don't know what
you're doing, living where such things are possible as have taken
place tonight; where any time you may be--"
His voice broke, and in amazement I looked at him. Horror and fear
were in his face.
"Do you think it is so awful a thing to see a poor little creature
who has been hurt and needs help?" I drew my hands away. "You talk
as if I were a child, Selwyn."
"You are a child in your knowledge of--of certain phases of life. If
I could only marry you tomorrow and take you away from here you
should never know them!"
"Well, you can't marry me to-morrow!" I made effort to laugh, but
Selwyn's face, his manner, frightened me. "I want to stay down here
and--and stop being as ignorant as a child of things women should
know. Behind the shelter of ignorance most women have already
shirked too long." I held out my hand, "If you stay a bit longer,
Selwyn, I'll say things I shouldn't. Goodnight."
With a shrug of his shoulders he went down the steps, and as I
watched him, for a moment I felt tempted to call him back.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56