Chapter 85

           LouisePoindextermadefalluseofthelibertyallowedbyherfather.Inlessthananhourafter,Calhounwasflatlyrefused.

           Itwashisthirdtimeofasking.Twicebeforehadthesamesuitbeenpreferred;informally,andratherbyafigureofspeechthanintheshapeofadirectdeclaration.

           Itwasthethirdtime;andtheanswertolditwouldbethelast.Itwasasimple"No,"emphaticallyfollowedbytheequallysimple"Never!"

           Therewasnoprevaricationaboutthespeech—noapologyforhavingmadeit.

           Calhounlistenedtohisrejection,withoutmuchshowofsurprise.Possibly—inallprobability—heexpectedit.

           Butinsteadoftheblanklookofdespairusuallyobservableunderthecircumstances,hisfeaturesremainedfirm,andhischeeksfreefromblanching.

           Ashestoodconfrontinghisfaircousin,aspectatormighthavebeenremindedofthejaguar,asitpausesbeforespringingonitsprey.

           Therewasthatinhiseyewhichseemedtosay:—

           "Inlessthansixtyseconds,you’llchangeyourtune."

           Whathedidsaywas:—

           "You’renotinearnest,Loo?"

           "Iam,sir.HaveIspokenlikeonewhojests?"

           "You’vespokenlikeone,whohasn’ttakenpainstoreflect."

           "Uponwhat?"

           "Manythings."

           "Namethem!"

           "Well,forone—thewayIloveyou."

           Shemadenorejoinder.

           "Alove,"hecontinued,inatonehalfexplanatory,halfpleading;"alove,Loo,thatnomancanfeelforawoman,andsurviveit.Itcanendonlywithmylife.Itcouldnotendwithyours."

           Therewasapause,butstillnoreply.