“I am not disposed to recall it,” said he, sternly.
“So much the better; at least it will save us a world of very unpleasant recrimination, for I refuse to comply.”
“You refuse! Now let me understand you, for this is too vital a point for me at least to make any mistake about--what is it that you refuse?”
“Don’t you think the tone of our present discussion is the best possible reason for not prolonging it?”
“No! If we have each of us; lost temper, I think the wisest course would be to recover ourselves, and see if we cannot talk the matter over in a better spirit.”
“Begin then by unsaying that odious word.”
“Insist! You must not insist upon anything.”
“I’ll take back the word if you so earnestly desire it, Florence,” said he gravely; “but I hope request will be read in its place.”
“Now, then, what is it you request? for I frankly declare that all this time I don’t rightly understand what you ask of me.”
“This is worse than I suspected,” said he angrily, “for now I see that it is in the mere spirit of defiance that you rejected my demand.”
“Upon my word, Sir, I believe it will turn out that neither of us knew very much of the other.”
He grew very pale, and made no answer, though he twice seemed as if about to speak.
“I declare,” cried she, and her heightened colour and flashing eye showed the temper that stirred her--“I declare I think we shall have employed all our lately displayed candour to very little advantage if it does not carry us a little further.”
“I scarcely catch your meaning,” said he, in a low voice.
“What I meant was, that by a little further effort of our frankness we might come to convey to each other that scenes like these are not pleasant, nor need they ever occur again.”
“I believe at last I apprehend you,” said he, in a broken accent. “You desire that our engagement should be broken off.”
She made no answer, but averted her head.
“I will do my best to be calm, Florence,” continued he, “and I will ask as much of you. Let neither of us sacrifice the prospect of a whole life’s happiness for the sake of a petty victory in a very petty dispute. If, however, you are of opinion--” he stopped, he was about to say more than he had intended, more than he knew how to say, and he stopped, confused and embarrassed.