"
Peter's eyes ceased to burn, and his second cup of tea, which a moment
before was well-nigh choking him, suddenly became nectar for the gods.
Then at last Leonore made the remark towards which she had been working.
At twenty-five Leonore would have been able to say it without so
dangerous a preamble.
"I don't want to be bothered by men, and wish they would let me alone,"
she said. "I haven't the slightest intention of marrying for at least
five years, and shall say no to whomever asks me before then,"'
Five years! Peter sipped his tea quietly, but with a hopeless feeling.
He would like to claim that bit of womanhood as his own that moment, and
she could talk of five years! It was the clearest possible indication to
Peter that Leonore was heart-whole. "No one, who is in love," he
thought, "could possibly talk of five years, or five months even." When
Peter got back to his chambers that afternoon, he was as near being
despairing as he had been since--since--a long time ago.
Pages:
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583