We visited the larger animals in turns, and whenever there was a seat
the Squire thoughtfully pressed me to sit down, while the children
pranced about to let off the steam of their enjoyment. After a few
minutes he invariably joined me, and led the conversation to the same
topic. Above the roar of the lions, above the jabber of the monkeys, he
shouted in my ears to know if I were still obdurate. Wouldn't I help
him? Why wouldn't I help him? If I really loved Evelyn, and cared for
her welfare, how could I stand aside? I must see--surely I must see
that she belonged to the essentially feminine type of women who needed a
home!
"I believe there are many women nowadays who are honestly satisfied with
an independent career, but she is not one. She is made to love and be
loved. She needs a man to look after her."
"The right kind of man!" I said primly. "I agree with your diagnosis,
Mr Maplestone, but Evelyn's nature makes it peculiarly essential that
she should make a wise choice. If her marriage was a failure, she would
suffer greatly. No one but herself can decide who is the Right Man."
Feeding hour was approaching; a furious outburst of roars proclaimed the
lions' knowledge of the fact. Mr Maplestone leant his arm on the back
of the seat and shouted into my ear:--
"But you know her so well; she has spoken to you. There could be no
harm in giving me some hints. Some things might be altered, though
others could not. Does she think me an ugly brute?"
His face was close to mine. I looked at the blunt features, the clear,
healthful tints, and found nothing that offended my eye.
As I had realised in Mr Hallett's presence, expression counts for more
than mere correctness of outline. I turned aside and shook my head.
"The question of appearance does not count. In that respect you have
the one qualification which a woman demands."
"Which is?"
"Manliness--strength. Evelyn would care little for handsome features."
He sighed relief.
"Disposition then! I made a bad impression at our first meeting. My
temper is hasty. I dislike opposition, but if we loved one another we
should agree. There would be no opposition."
I smiled at his innocence. It is astonishing how guileless these big,
strong men can be. I was about to undeceive him, but before I had time
to speak the children were back with a rush, dragging at our arms, and
demanding to move on. For the next half-hour we had no private
conversation, but at the first chance he began once more.
"Evelyn has been accustomed to the country. I could give her the life
she likes. If she wished it I would take a house in town for the
season. To a certain extent I believe in women's rights. I should not
interfere with her pursuits. I should want her to be happy in her own
way."
"Always providing that her husband was the chief consideration, and came
before everything else?"
"Of course!" he cried loudly. "Why, of course! What else could you
expect?"