"I have something to tell you," said Parker at last.
Alice did not deign to reply.
"I think it better to let you know at once," he continued. "The fact
is, I intend to marry Janet."
"Janet won't," said Alice, promptly, retorting first, and then
reflecting on the intelligence, which surprised her more than it
pleased her.
Parker smiled conceitedly, and said, "I don't think she will raise
any difficulty if you give her to understand that it is all over
between US."
"That what is all over?"
"Well, if you prefer it, that there never has been anything between
us. Janet believes that we were engaged. So did a good many other
people until you went into high life."
"I cannot help what people thought."
"And they all know that I, at least, was ready to perform my part of
the engagement honorably."
"Wallace," she said, with a sudden change of tone; "I think we had
better separate. It is not right for me to be riding about the park
with you when I have nobody belonging to me here except a
man-servant."
"Just as you please," he said, coolly, halting. "May I assure Janet
that you wish her to marry me?"
"Most certainly not. I do not wish anyone to marry you, much less my
own sister. I am far inferior to Janet; and she deserves a much
better husband than I do."
"I quite agree with you, though I don't quite see what that has to
do with it. As far as I understand you, you will neither marry me
yourself--mind, I am quite willing to fulfil my engagement
still--nor let any one else have me. Is that so?"
"You may tell Janet," said Alice, vigorously, her face glowing,
"that if we--you and I--were condemned to live forever on a desert
isl--No; I will write to her. That will be the best way.
Good-morning."
Parker, hitherto imperturbable, now showed signs of alarm. "I beg,
Alice," he said, "that you will say nothing unfair to her of me. You
cannot with truth say anything bad of me."
"Do you really care for Janet?" said Alice, wavering.
"Of course," he replied, indignantly. "Janet is a very superior
girl."
"I have always said so," said Alice, rather angry because some one
else had forestalled her with the meritorious admission. "I will
tell her the simple truth--that there has never been anything
between us except what is between all cousins; and that there never
could have been anything more on my part. I must go now. I don't
know what that man must think of me already."