The Keepers of the People

547The going of Lady Hammersmith was pleasant to them; but they regretted Althea. Ralph Falcon was now thrown yet more with Miss Freshington; for she was more with Lady Lisdor now that Althea had gone; and she grew more intimate with him, and more curious about his life in the East. He was not open with her, and manifestly averse from answering her discreet questions; but the little she learned spurred her imagination, and strengthened her belief that he was a man of power and authority in his own country. His influence over her was growing steadily all the while, and he knew it. She, for her part, had ceased to struggle against it; and was rather striving to become more his friend than Lady Lisdor, of whom she was growing more and more jealous. Of a sudden he believed that the time had come to bring the matter to an end, and was the readier to do so that he had learned from Lord Lisdor that the formalities of marrying were a matter of weeks, and he desired to be on his way home as soon as might be.

548He chose a night when the air was heavy with a coming storm, and the nerves of the two women were on edge. He sat on the terrace with Miss Freshington: Lord Lisdor had gone to write a letter; Lady Lisdor, restless, had wandered away down to the woods. The night was very dark and still; there was a faint flicker, at the black horizon, of faraway lightning; and the feeling that they were alone together out of the world, was strong upon her. She talked fitfully, nervelessly; he said “yes” or “no,” if she asked him anything; and she was aware that he was in a grave thoughtfulness. Then they fell silent. He said presently, “I return very soon to the East; it is not likely that I shall ever come to England again.”

549The night went very cold to her; she shivered; and had nothing to say.

550He was silent awhile, giving her time to realise; then he said, “Will you marry me, Miss Freshington?”

551She was taken aback, her mind in a whirl: she had not looked for it so very soon.... did she desire it, or did she not?.... She did not know.... she wanted time.... she did not want time.... pleased vanity struggled with a formless fear.... she knew that she must decide now, that she would never have another chance.