Did I ruin your life, Dr. Fernie?"
He laughed. He could not honestly say that she had. In fact, his
life, so far as concerned his work, had gone on much about the
same. But then, such a man does not allow love to interfere with
his career.
"And then you went and threw over the old man. Florence, why didn't
you tell me that you were going to do that? You might have told
me."
She shook her head. "Until you fell into such a rage, and called
me such dreadful names, I did not understand."
"Why didn't you tell me, Florence?" he repeated.
She shook her head again.
"You were only a little innocent, ignorant child then," he said;
"of course you could not understand. I was an ass and a brute and
a fool not to know."
"You said you would never forgive me. You said you would never
shake hands with me again."
He held out his hand. "Since," he said, "you are not going to
marry the old man, and since you are not engaged to anybody else,
why--then--in that case--the old state of things is still going
on; and--and--Florence--but if you give me your hand, I shall keep
it, mind."
"Dear me!" said the colonel's wife, standing in the doorway.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69