Page:The Portrait of a Lady (1882).djvu/347

THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 339 "He told me that you had forgotten me." " Ah no, I don't forget," said Pansy, showing her pretty teeth in a fixed smile. " Then everything is just the same ? " "Ah no, it's not just the same. Papa has been very severe." " What has he done to you 1 " " He asked me what you had done to me, and I told him everything. Then he forbade me to marry you." " You needn't mind that." " Oh yes, I must indeed. I can't disobey papa." " Not for one who loves you as I do, and whom you pretend to lover' Pansy raised the lid of the tea-pot, gazing into this vessel for a moment ; then she dropped six words into its aromatic depths. " I love you just as much." " What good will that do mel" " Ah," said Pansy, raising her sweet, vague eyes, " I don't know that." " You disappoint me," groaned poor Eosier. Pansy was silent a moment ; she handed a tea-cup to a servant. " Please don't talk any more." " Is this to be all my satisfaction 1 " " Papa said I was not to talk with you." " Do you sacrifice me like that 1 Ah, it's too much ! " " I wish you would wait a little," said the young girl, in a voice just distinct enough to betray a quaver. "Of course I will wait if you will give me hope. But you take my life away." " I will not give you up oh, no ! " Pansy went on. " He will try and make you marry some one else." "I will never do that." " What then are we to wait for ] " She hesitated a moment. " I will speak to Mrs. Osmond, and she will help us." It was in this manner that she for the most part designated her stepmother. ' " She won't help us much. She is afraid." "Afraid of what?" a Of your father, I suppose." Pansy shook her little head. " She is not afraid of any one ! We must have patience." " Ah, that's an awful word," Rosier groaned ; he was deeply disconcerted. Oblivious of the customs of good society, he Z 2