It is a bitter struggle to win the wild
thing. And why? Because there is pursuing one of the pursuers another
bird of red plumage. Do you understand?"
He paused, and saw her face was full of colour and her eyes had a glow.
Every nerve in her was pulsing hard.
"Tell me," she said presently, "whom do you mean by the bird of red
plumage? Is it a mere figure of speech? Or has it a real meaning?"
"It has a real meaning."
He rose to his feet, bent over her and spoke hotly. "Junia, the end of
my waiting has come. I want you as I never wanted anything in my life.
I must know the truth. I love you, Junia. I have loved you from the
first moment I saw you, and nothing is worth while with you not in it.
Let us work together. It is a big, big game I'm playing."
"Yes, it's a big game you're playing," she said with emotion. "It is a
big, big game, and, all things considered, you should win it, but I doubt
you will. I feel there are matters bigger than the game, or than you, or
me, or anyone else. And I do not believe in your bird of red plumage; I
don't believe it exists. It may have done so, but it doesn't now."
She also got to her feet, and Tarboe was so near her she could feel his
hot breath on her cheek.
"No, it doesn't exist now," she repeated, "and the pursuer is not
pursued. You have more imagination than belongs to a mere man of
business--you're an inexperienced poet.
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