"Size is n't everything!" she
blazed.
"Not in bodies, perhaps; but it counts for something in hearts and brains, and
it is convenient to have a sense of honor that's at least as big as a grain of
mustard-seed."
"Claude Merrill is not dishonorable," Rose exclaimed impetuously; "or at least
he is n't as bad as you think: he has never asked me to marry him."
"Then he probably was not quite ready to speak, or perhaps you were not quite
ready to hear," retorted Stephen, bitterly; "but don't let us have words,-
there'll be enough to regret without adding those. I have seen, ever since New
Year's, that you were not really happy or contented; only I would n't allow it
to myself; I kept hoping against hope that I was mistaken. There have been
times when I would have married you, willing or unwilling, but I did n't love
you so well then; and now that there's another man in the case, it's
different, and I'm strong enough to do the right thing. Follow your heart and
be happy; in a year or two I shall be glad I had the grit to tell you so.
Good-bye, Rose!"
Rose, pale with amazement, summoned all her pride, and drawing the turquoise
engagement ring from her finger, handed it silently to Stephen, hiding her
face as he flung it vehemently down the river-bank.
Pages:
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105