Who Pays the Piper? Read Online Free PDF Page A

see if there’s enough flat ground there.”
    They turned, but when they came to where the sundial waited to record a sunny hour Lucas Dale took a step ahead and stopped there right in her path.
    â€œIt will do another time,” he said. “I want it to be just as you would like, but just now—I want to talk to you.”
    Susan stood and looked at him.
    â€œWhat do you want to talk to me about?”
    A little dark colour came into his face. There was a sense of emotion kept in check. He said,
    â€œDon’t you know, Susan?” And then, “I think you do.”
    Susan kept her eyes on his face. She said,
    â€œI don’t want to know.”
    â€œIs that because you want to save my feelings? But suppose I don’t want to have them saved. It won’t hurt you to listen to me, will it? I won’t make a scene or distress you. I only want a hearing—I only want to put my case.”
    â€œYou haven’t got a case,” said Susan quickly.
    â€œYou mean you have prejudiced it. Well, even so, it can’t possibly hurt you to listen to what I have got to say.”
    â€œBut it’s no use——”
    He smiled.
    â€œHow do you know that? I have got things that I want to say to you. I shall never rest until I have said them—I shall never stop trying to make you listen. You know, I am not asking so much—I only want you to listen. You will do that, won’t you?”
    Susan looked away. There was something in his eyes—something. She said,
    â€œVery well, I’ll listen—but it isn’t any good.”
    There was a little pause. She thought he came a step nearer, and she thought that he was smiling.
    â€œWe are both taking a good deal for granted—aren’t we, Susan? You’re quite right of course. How soon did you find out that I was in love with you?”
    Her colour rose. She made no reply. He said,
    â€œI wanted you to know. It happened the first time I saw you. You had on a blue dress—you had caught it on a rose bush—you asked me if I had a pin, and I gave you one to pin it up with. I fell in love with you then. Whilst you were pinning your dress I said to myself, ‘That’s my wife. She doesn’t know it yet, but that’s my wife.’”
    Susan made an abrupt movement.
    â€œI can’t listen to this sort of thing, Mr. Dale.”
    â€œWhy? It doesn’t hurt you, does it? And you promised to listen. I was trying to explain. I don’t want you to think I fell in love with you in just the ordinary way—I didn’t. You got me the way a woman does get a man once in a while. I’m not saying much about how I feel, but if there’s any way a man can love a woman more than I love you, I’d like to know about it so that I can love you that way too.”
    The tears stung in Susan’s eyes.
    â€œOh, Mr. Dale, don’t!”
    â€œBecause of Bill Carrick?”
    â€œYou know we’re going to be married—you’ve always known.”
    He shook his head.
    â€œI don’t know it now. You’re going to marry me.”
    Susan flamed with anger.
    â€œHow dare you say a thing like that to me? I’m engaged to Bill, and I’m going to marry him—sooner than you think perhaps.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œIt might mean next week.”
    Anger had ripped up her discretion. She wanted only to convince him and to convince herself. Because she was frightened—she was frightened. There was nothing to be frightened about. There were gardeners within call. What could he do? She couldn’t guess. He was smiling. His smile frightened her. He said easily,
    â€œLook here, Susan—have you ever thought what you are doing to Bill Carrick? If you were fond of him you wouldn’t want to do it. He may be as clever as paint and as good at his job as you think he is, but how is a young fellow going to get on if he’s got a wife