"I know it," he said, flushing. "It was that which made me love you." He
rose (it was not natural to Paul to keep a lowly position long), and,
taking a seat beside her, lifted her in his arms. "I'm well caught," he
murmured, looking down upon her with a smile. "Who would ever have
supposed that you could sway me so?"
"Oh," cried Eve, breaking away from him, "it's of no use; my one day
that I counted on--my one short day--I cannot even dare to take that!
Good women have the worst of it; if I could pretend that I was going to
marry you, all this would be right; and if I could pretend nothing, but
just _take_ it, then at least I should have had it; a remembrance for
all the dreary years that have got to come. Instead of that, as I have
been brought up a stupid, good woman, I _can't_ change--though I wish I
could! I shall have to tell you the truth: I can never marry you; the
sooner we part, then, the better." She turned and walked northward
towards the Romney road.