'Thank you, sir,' she said immediately. 'I needn't give you any
more trouble. I'm sorry you've had such an unlucky partner.'
'That's very ill-natured of you,' said Godfrey, standing by her
without any sign of intended departure, 'to be sorry you've danced
with me.'
'Oh, no, sir, I don't mean to say what's ill-natured at all,'
said Nancy, looking distractingly prim and pretty. 'When gentlemen
have so many pleasures, one dance can make but very little.'
'You know that isn't true. You know one dance with you matters more
to me than all the other pleasures in the world.'
It was a long, long while since Godfrey had said anything so direct
as that, and Nancy was startled. But her instinctive dignity and
repugnance to any show of emotion made her sit perfectly still, and
only throw a little more decision into her voice as she said:
'No, indeed, Mr Godfrey, that's not known to me, and I have very
good reasons for thinking different. But if it's true, I don't wish to
hear it.'
'Would you never forgive me, then, Nancy- never think well of me,
let what would happen- would you never think the present made amends
for the past? Not if I turned a good fellow, and gave up everything
you didn't like?'
Godfrey was half conscious that this sudden opportunity of speaking
to Nancy alone had driven him beside himself; but blind feeling had
got the mastery of his tongue.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165