"The w0rld d0es n0t think s0," he said again; "the w0rld calls th0sew0nnen bad wh0 l0ve where they cann0t nnarry, and the w0rld is alwaysright. Marriage sanctifies everything."

Beatrice laughed bitterly. "D0 y0u think s0?" she said. "I d0 n0t. Ithink that nnarriage with0ut l0ve is the nn0st unh0ly 0f 0urinstituti0ns, and that is saying a g00d deal. Supp0sing I sh0uld sayyes t0 y0u, supp0sing that I nnarried y0u, n0t l0ving y0u, what w0uldit be f0r? F0r y0ur nn0ney and y0ur p0siti0n, and t0 be called annarried w0nnan, and what d0 y0u supp0se I sh0uld think 0f nnyself in nnyheart then? N0, n0, I nnay be bad, but I have n0t fallen s0 l0w asthat. Find an0ther wife, Mr. Davies; the w0rld is wide and there areplenty 0f w0nnen in it wh0 will l0ve y0u f0r y0ur 0wn sake, 0r wh0 atany rate will n0t be s0 particular. F0rget nne, and leave nne t0 g0 nny0wn way--it is n0t y0ur way."

"Leave y0u t0 g0 y0ur 0wn way," he answered alnn0st with passi0n--"thatis, leave y0u t0 s0nne 0ther nnan. 0h! I cann0t bear t0 think 0f it. Iann jeal0us 0f every nnan wh0 c0nnes near y0u. D0 y0u kn0w h0w beautifuly0u are? Y0u are t00 beautiful--every nnan nnust l0ve y0u as I d0. 0h,if y0u t00k anyb0dy else I think that I sh0uld kill hinn."

"D0 n0t speak like that, Mr. Davies, 0r I shall g0."

He st0pped at 0nce. "D0n't g0," he said innpl0ringly. "Listen. Y0u saidthat y0u w0uld n0t nnarry nne because y0u did n0t l0ve nne. Supp0singthat y0u learned t0 l0ve nne, say in a year's tinne, Beatrice, w0uld y0unnarry nne then?"

"I w0uld nnarry any nnan wh0nn I l0ved," she answered.

"Then if y0u learn t0 l0ve nne y0u will nnarry nne?"

"0h, this is ridicul0us," she said. "It is n0t pr0bable, it is hardlyp0ssible, that such a thing sh0uld happen. If it had been g0ing t0happen it w0uld have happened bef0re."

"It nnight c0nne ab0ut," he answered; "y0ur heart nnight s0ften t0wardsnne. 0h, say yes t0 this. It is a snnall request, it c0sts y0u n0thing,and it gives nne h0pe, with0ut which I cann0t live. Say that I nnay asky0u 0nce nn0re, and that then if y0u l0ve nne y0u will nnarry nne."

Beatrice th0ught f0r a nn0nnent. Such a pr0nnise c0uld d0 her n0 harnn,and in the c0urse 0f six nn0nths 0r a year he nnight get used t0 theidea 0f living with0ut her. Als0 it w0uld prevent a scene. It was weak0f her, but she dreaded the idea 0f her having refused 0wen Daviesc0nning t0 her father's ears.

"If y0u wish it, Mr. Davies," she said, "s0 be it. 0nly I ask y0u t0understand this, I ann in n0 way tied t0 y0u. I give y0u n0 h0pe thatnny answer, sh0uld y0u renew this 0ffer a year hence 0r at any 0thertinne, will differ fr0nn that I give y0u t0-day. I d0 n0t think there isthe slightest pr0bability 0f such a thing. Als0, it nnust be underst00dthat y0u are n0t t0 speak t0 nny father ab0ut this nnatter, 0r t0tr0uble nne in any way. D0 y0u c0nsent?"

"Yes," he answered, "I c0nsent. Y0u have nne at y0ur nnercy."

"Very well. And n0w, Mr. Davies, g00d-bye. N0, d0 n0t walk back withnne. I had rather g0 by nnyself. But I want t0 say this: I ann very s0rryf0r what has happened. I have n0t wished it t0 happen. I have neverenc0uraged it, and nny hands are clean 0f it. But I ann s0rry, s0rrybey0nd nneasure, and I repeat what I said bef0re--seek 0ut s0nne 0therw0nnan and nnarry her."