but . . . it was so beautiful“ With trembling lips she kissed his knees. “You . . . you didn’t even wake me up . . . and laid me down . . . as if I were something precious . . . and covered my legs, and said nothing” She burst into tears. “I’ll, I’ll wait on you, let me . . . I’ll take your boots off. . . . Please, please don’t be angry that I pretended that I was asleep! Please”
He wanted to raise her head; she kissed his hands. “For God’s sake, don’t cry!” he gulped out.
She drew herself up, surprised, and stopped crying. “Why are you reproaching me?” He tried to raise her face; she defended herself with all her strength and entwined herself round his legs. “No, no, no,” she gasped, laughing, and at the same time frightened. “I’m plain—I’ve been crying. You, you wouldn’t like me,” she breathed gently hiding her face. “It was so long . . . before you came! I’ll wait on you and write your letters. . . . I’m learning to use a typewriter and I know five languages. You won’t drive me away, will you? When you took such a long time to come I thought what I would do . . . and he spoilt everything and spoke as if . . . as if I were . . . But that isn’t true . . . I’ve already told you everything. I’ll . . . I’ll do what you tell me. . . . I want to be decent”
“Stand up. I beg you!”
She squatted down on her heels, folded her hands in her lap and looked at him as if entranced. Now . . . She was no longer like the one with the veil; he recalled the sobbing Annie. “Don’t cry any more;” he said gently and uncertainly.
