"You are an old man."
"What on earth makes you think that?" he demanded.
"Because your hair is gray," I stammered, "and because you look at
least forty."
At that he broke into a loud chuckle.
"And you think forty old?"
I nodded. For a long moment he was silent, and then suddenly he took my
arm, and we moved briskly down the path. We came to one of the piers,
and he assisted me up the little stone steps. In silence we went out
to the end of the pier. There was a little rustic inclosure at the
end, covered with ivy from some sort of tree that seemed to grow out
of the water. We sat down for a while and looked out across the sea.
Everything was very dark and still. Presently he said:
"What would you do if I were to take you into my arms by force now?"
"I would scream," I said childishly.
"That wouldn't do you much good, for I could easily overpower you. You
see, there is not a soul anywhere near us here."
I experienced a moment's fear, and stood up, when he said in a kind and
humorous way:
"Sit down, child; I'm not going to touch you. I merely said that to see
what you would do. As a matter of fact, I want to be your friend, your
very particular friend, and I am not going to jeopardize my chances by
doing something that would make you hate me. Do sit down."
Then as I obeyed, he asked me to tell him all about myself. It was
not that I either trusted or liked him, but I was very lonely, and
something in the quiet beauty of our surroundings affected me, I
suppose. So long as he did not make love to me, I found him rather
attractive. So I told him what there was to tell of my simple history
up to this time, and of my ambitions.
He said a girl like me deserved a better fate than to be shut up in
this country; that in a few weeks the hot season would set in, and
then I would probably find life unbearable, and surely have some
fever. He advised me very earnestly, therefore, not to remain here,
but suggested that I go to America. There, he said, I would soon
succeed, and probably become both famous and rich. His description of
America quickened my fancy, and I told him I should love to go there,
but, unfortunately, even if I could get away from this position, and
managed to pay my fare to America, I did not know what I would do after
arriving there virtually penniless.
When I said that, he turned and took both my hands impulsively and in a
nice fatherly way in his, and said:
"Why, look here, little girl, what's the matter with your coming to
work for me? I have a huge practice, and will need a secretary upon my
return. Now, what do you say?"