‘I am afraid not. That is why I have come. I ought not to have
let it go on so long. Somehow, I did not understand. I don’t
think I shall marry any one, ever at all. I don’t think I ever
could!’
And then I cried; it was stupid; it was the last moment in the
world to cry, but a sob came in my throat, and then another,
and I sobbed out loud, and Walter took me in his arms and comforted
me.
And it was over. I had meant to be cold and firm, and I could
not. I felt so frightened; frightened of life, and of myself,
and he was very kind. He seemed much older than me, and much
wiser; he seemed just then all I wanted him to be.
He took me back to Campden Hill Square, and said good-bye to
me on the step as he had said it that evening in March, that
seemed now, long ago.
He said:
‘It will be better when we are married. Only two weeks more to
wait now.’
And I knew then that it was bound to come; that I must go through
with it; and I did not know whether it was a mistake or not.