Sir Redmond waited until Keith was far beyond hearing, then he filled his lungs deeply and looked at Beatrice. “Don't you feel you could trust me--and love me a little?”
Beatrice was deadly afraid she was going to cry, and she hated weeping women above all things. “A little wouldn't do,” she said, with what firmness she could muster. “I should want to love you as much--quite as much as you deserve, Sir Redmond, or not at all. I'm afraid I can't. I wish I could, though. I--I think I should like to love you; but perhaps I haven't much heart. I like you very much--better than I ever liked any one before; but oh, I wish you wouldn't insist on an answer! I don't know, myself, how I feel. I wish you had not asked me--yet. I tried not to let you.”
“A man can keep his heart still for a certain time, Beatrice, but not for always. Some time he will say what his heart commands, if the chance is given him; the woman can't hold him back. I did wait and wait, because I thought you weren't ready for me to speak. And--you don't care for anybody else?”
“Of course I don't. But I hate to give up my freedom to any one, Sir Redmond. I want to be free--free as the wind that blows here always, and changes and changes, and blows from any point that suits its whim, without being bound to any rule.”
“Do you think I'm an ogre, that will lock you in a dungeon, Beatrice? Can't you see that I am not threatening your freedom? I only want the right to love you, and make you happy. I should not ask you to go or stay where you did not please, and I'd be good to you, Beatrice!”
“I don't think it would matter,” cried Beatrice, “if you weren't. I should love you because I couldn't help myself. I hate doing things by rule, I tell you. I couldn't care for you because you were good to me, and I ought to care; it must be because I can't help myself. And I--” She stopped and shut her teeth hard together; she felt sure she should cry in another minute if this went on.
“I believe you do love me, Beatrice, and your rebellious young American nature dreads surrender.” He tried to look into her eyes and smile, but she kept her eyes looking straight ahead. Then Sir Redmond made the biggest blunder of his life, out of the goodness of his heart, and because he hated to tease her into promising anything.