" Beaumaroy was equally
obstinate.
Mary rose. "Then that's settled, and we needn't keep Captain Alec waiting
any longer."
"How do you know that I sha'n't cheat you?" he asked.
"I don't know how I know that," Mary admitted. "But I do know it. And I
want to tell you--"
She suddenly felt embarrassed under his gaze; her cheeks flushed, but she
went on resolutely:
"To tell you how glad, how happy, I am that it all ends like this; that
the poor old man is free of his fancies and his fears, beyond both our
pity and our laughter."
"Aye, he's earned rest, if there is to be rest for any of us!"
"And you can rest, too. And you can laugh with us, and not at us. Isn't
that, after all, a more human sort of laughter?"
She was smiling still as she gave him her hand, but he saw that tears
stood in her eyes. The next instant she gave a little sob.
"Doctor Mary!" he exclaimed in rueful expostulation.
"No, no, how stupid you are!" She laughed through her sob. "It's not
unhappiness!" She pressed his hand tightly for an instant and then walked
quickly out of the house, calling back to him, "Don't come, please don't
come.
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