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So Billy was right； after all； thought Tommy to herself； the piano
does help。
〃It was so incongruousa piano in Crane CourtI looked to see
where the noise came from。 I read the name of the paper on the
doorpost。 'It will be my last chance；' I said to myself。 'This shall
decide it。'〃
He came back to her。 She had not moved。 〃I am not afraid to tell
you all this。 You are so big…hearted； so human； you will understand；
you can forgive。 It is all past。 Loving you tells a man that he has
done with evil。 Will you not trust me？〃
She put her hands in his。 〃I am trusting you；〃 she said； 〃with all my
life。 Don't make a muddle of it； dear； if you can help it。〃
It was an odd wooing； as Tommy laughingly told herself when she
came to think it over in her room that night。 But that is how it shaped
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itself。
What troubled her most was that he had not been quite frank with
Peter； so that Peter had to defend her against herself。
〃I attacked you so suddenly；〃 explained Peter； 〃you had not time to
think。 You acted from instinct。 A woman seeks to hide her love even
from herself。〃
〃I expect； after all； I am more of a girl than a boy；〃 feared Tommy：
〃I seem to have so many womanish failings。〃
Peter took himself into quite places and trained himself to face the
fact that another would be more to her than he had ever been； and Clodd
went about his work like a bear with a sore head； but they neither of
them need have troubled themselves so much。 The marriage did not
take place till nearly fifteen years had passed away； and much water had
to flow beneath old London Bridge before that day。
The past is not easily got rid of。 A tale was once written of a
woman who killed her babe and buried it in a lonely wood； and later
stole back in the night and saw there； white in the moonlight； a child's
hand calling through the earth； and buried it again and yet again； but
always that white baby hand called upwards through the earth； trample it
down as she would。 Tommy read the story one evening in an old
miscellany； and sat long before the dead fire； the book open on her lap；
and shivered； for now she knew the fear that had been haunting her。
Tommy lived expecting her。 She came one night when Tommy was
alone； working late in the office。 Tommy knew her the moment she
entered the door； a handsome woman； with snake…like； rustling skirts。
She closed the door behind her； and drawing forward a chair； seated
herself the other side of the desk； and the two looked long and anxiously
at one another。
〃They told me I should find you here alone；〃 said the woman。 〃It is
better； is it not？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Tommy； 〃it is better。〃
〃Tell me；〃 said the woman； 〃are you very much in love with him？〃
〃Why should I tell you？〃
〃Because； if notif you have merely accepted him thinking him a
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good catchwhich he isn't； my dear； hasn't a penny to bless himself with；
and never will if he marries youwhy； then the matter is soon settled。
They tell me you are a business…like young lady； and I am prepared to
make a business…like proposition。〃
There was no answer。 The woman shrugged her shoulders。
〃If； on the other hand； you are that absurd creature； a young girl in
lovewhy； then； I suppose we shall have to fight for him。〃
〃It would be more sporting； would it not？〃 suggested Tommy。
〃Let me explain before you decide；〃 continued the woman。 〃Dick
Danvers left me six months ago； and has kept from me ever since；
because he loved me。〃
〃It sounds a curious reason。〃
〃I was a married woman when Dick Danvers and I first met。 Since
he left mefor my sake and his ownI have received information of my
husband's death。〃
〃And does Dickdoes he know？〃 asked the girl。
〃Not yet。 I have only lately learnt the news myself。〃
〃Then if it is as you say； when he knows he will go back to you。〃
〃There are difficulties in the way。〃
〃What difficulties？〃
〃My dear； this。 To try and forget me； he has been making love to
you。 Men do these things。 I merely ask you to convince yourself of
the truth。 Go away for six monthsdisappear entirely。 Leave him
freeuninfluenced。 If he loves youif it be not merely a sense of
honour that binds himyou will find him here on your return。 If notif
in the interval I have succeeded in running off with him； well； is not the
two or three thousand pounds I am prepared to put into this paper of
yours a fair price for such a lover？〃
Tommy rose with a laugh of genuine amusement。 She could never
altogether put aside her sense of humour； let Fate come with what
terrifying face it would。
〃You may have him for nothingif he is that man；〃 the girl told her；
〃he shall be free to choose between us。〃
〃You mean you will release him from his engagement？〃
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〃That is what I mean。〃
〃Why not take my offer？ You know the money is needed。 It will
save your father years of anxiety and struggle。 Go awaytravel； for a
couple of months； if you're afraid of the six。 Write him that you must
be alone； to think things over。〃
The girl turned upon her。
〃And leave you a free field to lie and trick？〃
The woman； too； had risen。 〃Do you think he really cares for you？
At the moment you interest him。 At nineteen every woman is a
mystery。 When the mood is pastand do you know how long a man's
mood lasts； you poor chit？ Till he has caught what he is running after；
and has tasted itthen he will think not of what he has won； but of what
he has lost： of the society from which he has cut himself adrift； of all
the old pleasures and pursuits he can no longer enjoy； of the luxuries
necessities to a man of his stamp that marriage with you has deprived
him of。 Then your face will be a perpetual reminder to him of what he
has paid for it； and he will curse it every time he sees it。〃
〃You don't know him；〃 the girl cried。 〃You know just a part of him…
…the part you would know。 All the rest of him is a good man； that
would rather his self…respect than all the luxuries you mentionyou
included。〃
〃It seems to resolve itself into what manner of man he is；〃 laughed
the woman。
The girl looked at her watch。 〃He will be here shortly； he shall tell
us himself。〃
〃How do you mean？〃
〃That here； between the two of us； he shall decidethis very night。〃
She showed her white face to the woman。 〃Do you think I could live
through a second day like to this？〃
〃The scene would be ridiculous。〃
〃There will be none here to enjoy the humour of it。〃
〃He will not understand。〃
〃Oh； yes； he will；〃 the girl laughed。 〃Come； you have all the
advantages； you are rich； you are clever； you belong to his class。 If he
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ele