Why Marry? Part 48

[_smiling with love and trust_]

Except that you deserted me, dear, just when I needed you most. Ernest, Ernest! never leave me again.

ERNEST

Deserted you? Why, your brother said you were ill.

HELEN

Ah, I see ... he was mistaken.

ERNEST

[_jubilant and boyish_]

But never mind now, I've got you at last, and I'll never, never let you go. You've got to sail with me to-morrow. Together! Oh, think! Together.

[_Another embrace._

HELEN

Are you _sure_ you love me?

ERNEST

[_laughs from sheer joy of her nearness_]

Am I sure? Ten million times more to-day than yesterday.

HELEN

Even so ... it is not, and can never be, as I love you.

ERNEST

[_with her hands in his, gayly_]

Then you can apologize.

HELEN

Apologize?

ERNEST

For saying, years and years ago--in other words, last night--that you didn't think you'd marry me after all. [_She starts._] Why, what's the matter? You're trembling like a leaf. You _are_ ill!

HELEN

No; oh, no.

ERNEST

[_tenderly_]

Still a few lingering doubts? I had hoped a good night's rest would put those little prejudices to sleep forever.

HELEN

Sleep?

[_She shakes her head, gazing at him soberly._

ERNEST

So you could not sleep? Neither could I; I was too happy to sleep. I was afraid I'd miss some wondrous throbbing thought of your loveliness.

[_Takes her pa.s.sive hand, puts a kiss in it, and closes it reverently while she looks into his eyes without moving._] Do you know, I'm disappointed in love. I always thought it meant soft sighs and pretty speeches. It means an agony of longing, delicious agony, but, oh, terrific. [_She says nothing._] Dear, dear girl, it may be easy for you, but I can't stand much more of this.

HELEN

Nor I.

ERNEST

You must come to Paris with me or I'll stay home. All through the night I had waking visions of our being parted. Just when we had found each other at last. Some terrible impersonal monster stepped in between us and said: "No. Now that you have had your glimpse of heaven--away! Ye twain shall not enter here...." Silly, wasn't it? But I couldn't get the horror of it out of my head.

HELEN

[_nodding_]

Do you know why, Ernest? Because it was in mine. It came from my thought to yours. You and I are attuned like wireless instruments. Even in the old blind days, there in the laboratory I used to read your mind. Shall I tell you the name of the monster that would put us asunder?... Its name is Marriage.