Now. Ethel--I have longed--"
He stopped. She looked at his face, at his eyes now eager and eloquent
with the things that never shaped themselves into words.
"_Dare_ you come with me?" he whispered.
Suddenly the world opened out in reality to her as sometimes it had
opened out to her in wistful dreams. And she quailed before it. She
dropped her eyes from his. She became a fellow-conspirator. "But,
how--?"
"I will think how. Trust me! Surely we know each other now--Think! We
two--"
"But I have never thought--"
"I could get apartments for us both. It would be so easy. And think of
it--think--of what life would be!"
"How can I?"
"You will come?"
She looked at him, startled. "You know," she said, "you must know I
would like--I would love--"
"You will come?"
"But, dear--! Dear, if you _make_ me--"
"Yes!" cried Lewisham triumphantly. "You will come." He glanced round
and his voice dropped. "Oh! my dearest! my dearest!..."
His voice sank to an inaudible whisper. But his face was eloquent. Two
garrulous, home-going clerks passed opportunely to remind him that his
emotions were in a public place.
CHAPTER XX.
THE CAREER IS SUSPENDED.
On the Wednesday afternoon following this--it was hard upon the
botanical examination--Mr.
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