CHAPTER XIX

Theafternoonwasalreadygrowingdarkwhenthetwootherwayfarers,MaryandRalphDenham,cameoutonthehighroadbeyondtheoutskirtsofLincoln.Thehighroad,astheybothfelt,wasbettersuitedtothisreturnjourneythantheopencountry,andforthefirstmileorsoofthewaytheyspokelittle.InhisownmindRalphwasfollowingthepassageoftheOtwaycarriageovertheheathhethenwentbacktothefiveortenminutesthathehadspentwithKatharine,andexaminedeachwordwiththecarethatascholardisplaysupontheirregularitiesofanancienttext.Hewasdeterminedthattheglow,theromance,theatmosphereofthismeetingshouldnotpaintwhathemustinfutureregardassoberfacts.OnhersideMarywassilent,notbecauseherthoughtstookmuchhandling,butbecausehermindseemedemptyofthoughtasherheartoffeeling.OnlyRalph’spresence,assheknew,preservedthisnumbness,forshecouldforeseeatimeoflonelinesswhenmanyvarietiesofpainwouldbesether.Atthepresentmomenthereffortwastopreservewhatshecouldofthewreckofherself-respect,forsuchshedeemedthatmomentaryglimpseofherlovesoinvoluntarilyrevealedtoRalph.Inthelightofreasonitdidnotmuchmatter,perhaps,butitwasherinstincttobecarefulofthatvisionofherselfwhichkeepspacesoevenlybesideeveryoneofus,andhadbeendamagedbyherconfession.Thegraynightcomingdownoverthecountrywaskindtoherandshethoughtthatoneofthesedaysshewouldfindcomfortinsittingupontheearth,alone,beneathatree.Lookingthroughthedarkness,shemarkedtheswellinggroundandthetree.Ralphmadeherstartbysayingabruptly “WhatIwasgoingtosaywhenwewereinterruptedatlunchwasthatifyougotoAmericaIshallcome,too.Itcan’tbehardertoearnalivingtherethanitishere.However,that’snotthepoint.Thepointis,Mary,thatIwanttomarryyou.Well,whatdoyousay?”Hespokefirmly,waitedfornoanswer,andtookherarminhis.“Youknowmebythistime,thegoodandthebad,”hewenton.“Youknowmytempers.I’vetriedtoletyouknowmyfaults.Well,whatdoyousay,Mary?” Shesaidnothing,butthisdidnotseemtostrikehim. “Inmostways,atleastintheimportantways,asyousaid,weknoweachotherandwethinkalike.IbelieveyouaretheonlypersonintheworldIcouldlivewithhappily.Andifyoufeelthesameaboutme—asyoudo,don’tyou,Mary?—weshouldmakeeachotherhappy.”Herehepaused,andseemedtobeinnohurryforananswerheseemed,indeed,tobecontinuinghisownthoughts. “Yes,butI’mafraidIcouldn