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fight had been quite earnest； for each party knew that it was but a
prelude to another and more serious fight； and looked upon the result
as in some sense an omen。
〃I am conquered；〃 he said in a voice in which vexation struggled with
a laugh； 〃and by a woman over whom I had an advantage。 It is
humiliating； for I confess I do not like being beaten。〃
〃Don't you think that women generally win if they mean to？〃 asked
Barbara。 〃I believe that when they fail； which is often enough； it is
because they don't care； or can't make up their minds。 A woman in
earnest is a dangerous antagonist。〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃or the best of allies。〃 Then he gave the clubs
and half…a…crown to the caddies； and when they were out of hearing；
added； 〃Miss Champers； I have been wondering for some time whether it
is possible that you would become such an ally to me。〃
〃I know nothing of business； Sir Robert； my tastes do not lie that
way。〃
〃You know well that I was not speaking of business； Miss Champers。 I
was speaking of another kind of partnership； that which Nature has
ordained between men and womenmarriage。 Will you accept me as a
husband？〃
She opened her lips to speak； but he lifted his hand and went on。
〃Listen before you give that ready answer which it is so hard to
recall； or smooth away。 I know all my disadvantages； my years； which
to you may seem many； my modest origin； my trade； which； not
altogether without reason； you despise and dislike。 Well； the first
two cannot be changed except for the worse； the second can be； and
already is； buried beneath the gold and ermine of wealth and titles。
What does it matter if I am the son of a City clerk who never earned
more than ￡2 a week and was born in a tenement at Battersea； when I am
one of the rich men of this rich land and shall die a peer in a
palace； leaving millions and honours to my children？ As for the third；
my occupation； I am prepared to give it up。 It has served my turn； and
after next week I shall have earned the amount that years ago I
determined to earn。 Thenceforth； set above the accidents of fortune； I
propose to devote myself to higher aims； those of legitimate ambition。
So far as my time would allow I have already taken some share in
politics as a worker； I intend to continue in them as a ruler which I
still have the health and ability to do。 I mean to be one of the first
men in this Empire； to ride to power over the heads of all the
nonentities whose only claim upon the confidence of their countrymen
is that they were born in a certain class； with money in their pockets
and without the need to spend the best of their manhood in work。 With
you at my side I can do all these things and more； and such is the
future that I have to offer you。〃
Again she would have broken in upon his speech and again he stopped
her； reading the unspoken answer on her lips。
〃Listen： I have not told you all。 Perhaps I have put first what should
have come last。 I have not told you that I love you earnestly and
sincerely； with the settled； unalterable love that sometimes comes to
men in middle…age who have never turned their thought that way before。
I will not attempt the rhapsodies of passion which at my time of life
might sound foolish or out of place； yet it is true that I am filled
with this passion which has descended on me and taken possession of
me。 I who often have laughed at such things in other men； adore you。
You are a joy to my eyes。 If you are not in the room； for me it is
empty。 I admire the uprightness of your character； and even your
prejudices； and to your standard I desire to approximate my own。 I
think that no man can ever love you quite so well as I do； Barbara
Champers。 Now speak。 I am ready to meet the best or the worst。〃
After her fashion Barbara looked him straight in the face with her
steady eyes； and answered gently enough； for the man's method of
presenting his case； elaborate and prepared though it evidently was；
had touched her。
〃I fear it is the worst； Sir Robert。 There are hundreds of women
superior to myself in every way who would be glad to give you the help
and companionship you ask； with their hearts thrown in。 Choose one of
them； for I cannot do so。〃
He heard and for the first time his face broke； as it were。 All this
while it had remained masklike and immovable； even when he spoke of
his love； but now it broke as ice breaks at the pressure of a sudden
flood beneath； and she saw the depths and eddies of his nature and
understood their strength。 Not that he revealed them in speech； angry
or pleading； for that remained calm and measured enough。 She did not
hear； she saw； and even then it was marvellous to her that a mere
change in a man's expression could explain so much。
〃Those are very cruel words；〃 he said。 〃Are they unalterable？〃
〃Quite。 I do not play in such matters； it would be wicked。〃
〃May I ask you one question； for if the answer is in the negative； I
shall still continue to hope？ Do you care for any other man？〃
Again she looked at him with her fearless eyes and answered：
〃Yes； I am engaged to another man。〃
〃To Alan Vernon？〃
She nodded。
〃When did that happen？ Some years ago？〃
〃No； this morning。〃
〃Great Heavens！〃 he muttered in a hoarse voice turning his head away；
〃this morning。 Then last night it might not have been too late； and
last night I should have spoken to you； I had arranged it all。 Yes； if
it had not been for the story of that accursed fetish and your uncle's
illness； I should have spoken to you； and perhaps succeeded。〃
〃I think not；〃 she said。
He turned upon her and notwithstanding the tears in his eyes they
burned like fire。
〃You thinkyou think；〃 he gasped； 〃but I know。 Of course after this
morning it was impossible。 But； Barbara； I say that I will win you
yet。 I have never failed in any object that I set before myself； and
do not suppose that I shall fail in this。 Although in a way I liked
and respected him； I have always felt that Vernon was my enemy； one
destined to bring grief and loss upon me； even if he did not intend to
do so。 Now I understand why； and he shall learn that I am stronger
than he。 God help him！ I say。〃
〃I think He will；〃 Barbara answered； calmly。 〃You are speaking wildly；
and I understand the reason and hope that you will forget your words；
but whether you forget or remember； do not suppose that you frighten
me。 You men who have made money；〃 she went on with swelling
indignation； 〃who have made money somehow； and have bought honours
with the moneys somehow； think yourselves great； and in your little
day； your little； little day that will end with three lines in small
type in /The Times/； you are great in this vulgar land。 You can buy
what you want and people creep round you and ask you for doles and
favours； and railway porters call you 'my Lord' at every other step。
But you forget your limitations in this world； and that which lives
above you。 You say you will do this and that。 You should study a book
which few of you ever read； where it tells you that you do not know
what you will be on the morrow； that your life is even as a vapour
appearing for a little time and then vanis