Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 93: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

84 ‘“T CANNOT MARRY YOU." ‘‘You do not care for me,’’ he uttered, his face flushing crimson, ‘‘and I had begun to believe——’’ He paused, but she remained silent. ‘‘You do not make me any reply,’’ he went on, bitterly, ‘hut I suppose none is necessary, under the circumstances. In this case silence does not give consent,’’ he added, with a short, hard laugh. ‘‘There would be no truth in my say- ing that I anticipated this, Miss Clayton, for conceited as it may sound, I did flatter myself that you thought a little of me. No doubt I was a fool, and so I get only what I de- serve. You were kind enough to receive me when I called and to prefer, apparently, to talk to me when there were other men around, but of course that’s no reason why I should take it for granted you would marry me. Forgive me for having fallen into so unpardonable an error—I will trouble you no more.’’ She laid her hand on his arm, but he paid noattention to this conciliatory movement on her part. A bright color came into her cheeks, but she was not daunted. ‘You are angry,’’ she said, ‘‘and there is no occasion for it. Do not go away thinking ill of women in general, and of me in particular. Be just, at any rate. Perhaps I have shown a preference for your society, and have given you more of my time than I have to other men, but, as you ac. knowledge, that is no reason I should wish to live with you the remainder of my life. Jam natural, and I try to be sincere—I despise a woman who trifles with men's affections, and I would consider it lowering myself to do so. But,’’ she went on, seeking his eyes for the first time, ‘‘men are so conceited, they imagine they have only to ask to receive—to beckon, and we fly to their arms. There is no happy medium, in their estimation.”’ Gomiichbookssco