Page:Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920).djvu/243

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THE EDUCATION OF BETTY
211

high, her eyes were blazing, and her cheeks were crimson. But her words were meek enough.

“I will marry Frank if you wish it, Stephen,” she said. “ You are my friend. I have never crossed your wishes, and, as you say, I have never regretted being always guided by them. I will do exactly as you wish in this case also, I promise you that. But, in so solemn a question, I must be very certain what you do wish. There must be no doubt in my mind or heart. Look me squarely in the eyes, Stephen — as you haven’t done once to-day, no, nor once since I came home from school — and, so looking, tell me that you wish me to marry Frank Douglas and I will do it! Do you, Stephen?”

I had to look her in the eyes, since nothing else would do her; and, as I did so, all the might of manhood in me rose up in hot revolt against the lie I would have told her. That unfaltering, impelling gaze of hers drew the truth from my lips in spite of myself.

“No, I don’t wish you to marry Frank Douglas, a thousand times no!” I said passionately. “I don’t wish you to marry any man on earth but myself. I love you — I love you, Betty. You are dearer to me than life — dearer to me than my own happiness. It was your happiness I thought of — and so I asked you to marry Frank because I believed he would make you a happy woman. That is all!”