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week because you can't have me； and look at me when you think I'm not
noticing and when all the time I'm wondering when you had your last
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square meal because of the hungry look in your eyes； and make eyes at my
revolver…belt hanging on a nail； and fight duels about me； and all the rest
andand now； when I say I'll marry you； you do yourself the honour of
refusing me。〃
〃You can't make me any more ridiculous than I feel；〃 he answered；
rubbing the lump on his forehead reflectively。 〃And if this is the
accepted romantic programmea duel over a girl； and the girl rushing into
the arms of the winnerwhy； I shall not make a bigger ass of myself by
going in for it。〃
〃I thought you'd jump at it；〃 she confessed； with a naivete he could not
but question； for he thought he saw a roguish gleam in her eyes。
〃My conception of love must differ from yours then；〃 he said。 〃I
should want a woman to marry me for love of me； and not out of romantic
admiration because I was lucky enough to drill a hole in a man's shoulder
with smokeless powder。 I tell you I am disgusted with this adventure
tom…foolery and rot。 I don't like it。 Tudor is a sample of the adventure…
kindpicking a quarrel with me and behaving like a monkey； insisting on
fighting with me'to the death；' he said。 It was like a penny dreadful。〃
She was biting her lip； and though her eyes were cool and level…
looking as ever； the tell…tale angry red was in her cheeks。
〃Of course； if you don't want to marry me〃
〃But I do；〃 he hastily interposed。
〃Oh； you do〃
〃But don't you see； little girl； I want you to love me；〃 he hurried on。
〃Otherwise； it would be only half a marriage。 I don't want you to marry
me simply because by so doing a stop is put to the beach gossip； nor do I
want you to marry me out of some foolish romantic notion。 I shouldn't
want you 。 。 。 that way。〃
〃Oh； in that case；〃 she said with assumed deliberateness； and he could
have sworn to the roguish gleam； 〃in that case； since you are willing to
consider my offer； let me make a few remarks。 In the first place； you
needn't sneer at adventure when you are living it yourself； and you were
certainly living it when I found you first； down with fever on a lonely
plantation with a couple of hundred wild cannibals thirsting for your life。
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Then I came along〃
〃And what with your arriving in a gale；〃 he broke in； 〃fresh from the
wreck of the schooner； landing on the beach in a whale…boat full of
picturesque Tahitian sailors； and coming into the bungalow with a Baden…
Powell on your head； sea…boots on your feet； and a whacking big Colt's
dangling on your hipwhy； I am only too ready to admit that you were the
quintessence of adventure。〃
〃Very good；〃 she cried exultantly。 〃It's mere simple arithmetic the
adding of your adventure and my adventure together。 So that's settled；
and you needn't jeer at adventure any more。 Next； I don't think there was
anything romantic in Tudor's attempting to kiss me； nor anything like
adventure in this absurd duel。 But I do think； now； that it was romantic
for you to fall in love with me。 And finally； and it is adding romance to
romance； I think 。 。 。 I think I do love you； Daveoh； Dave！〃
The last was a sighing dove…cry as he caught her up in his arms and
pressed her to him。
〃But I don't love you because you played the fool to…day；〃 she
whispered on his shoulder。 〃White men shouldn't go around killing each
other。〃
〃Then why do you love me？〃 he questioned； enthralled after the
manner of all lovers in the everlasting query that for ever has remained
unanswered。
〃I don't knowjust because I do； I guess。 And that's all the
satisfaction you gave me when we had that man…talk。 But I have been
loving you for weeksduring all the time you have been so deliciously and
unobtrusively jealous of Tudor。〃
〃Yes； yes； go on；〃 he urged breathlessly； when she paused。
〃I wondered when you'd break out； and because you didn't I loved you
all the more。 You were like Dad； and Von。 You could hold yourself in
check。 You didn't make a fool of yourself。〃
〃Not until to…day；〃 he suggested。
〃Yes； and I loved you for that； too。 It was about time。 I began to
think you were never going to bring up the subject again。 And now that I
have offered myself you haven't even accepted。〃
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With both hands on her shoulders he held her at arm's…length from him
and looked long into her eyes； no longer cool but seemingly pervaded with
a golden flush。 The lids drooped and yet bravely did not droop as she
returned his gaze。 Then he fondly and solemnly drew her to him。
〃And how about that hearth and saddle of your own？〃 he asked； a
moment later。
〃I well…nigh won to them。 The grass house is my hearth； and the
Martha my saddle； andand look at all the trees I've planted； to say
nothing of the sweet corn。 And it's all your fault anyway。 I might never
have loved you if you hadn't put the idea into my head。〃 〃There's the
Nongassla coming in around the point with her boats out；〃 Sheldon
remarked irrelevantly。 〃And the Commissioner is on board。 He's going
down to San Cristoval to investigate that missionary killing。 We're in
luck； I must say。〃
〃I don't see where the luck comes in；〃 she said dolefully。 〃We ought
to have this evening all to ourselves just to talk things over。 I've a
thousand questions to ask you。〃
〃And it wouldn't have been a man…talk either；〃 she added。
〃But my plan is better than that。〃 He debated with himself a moment。
〃You see； the Commissioner is the one official in the islands who can give
us a license。 Andthere's the luck of it Doctor Welshmere is here