"I do not like this, Lucian. Important communications--in this
case--corrupt good manners. If your intended speech is a sensible
one, the present is as good a time, and Bedford Square as good a
place, as you are likely to find for it. If it is otherwise, confess
that you have decided to leave it unsaid. But do not postpone it.
Reticence is always an error--even on the treasury bench. It is
doubly erroneous in dealing with me; for I have a constitutional
antipathy to it."
"Yes," he said, hurriedly; "but give me one moment--until the
policeman has passed."
The policeman went leisurely by, striking the flags with his heels,
and slapping his palm with a white glove.
"The fact is, Lydia, that--I feel great difficulty--"
"What is the matter?" said Lydia, after waiting in vain for further
particulars. "You have broken down twice in a speech." There was a
pause. Then she looked at him quickly, and added, incredulously,
"Are you going to get married? Is that the secret that ties your
practised tongue?"
"Not unless you take part in the ceremony."
"Very gallant; and in a vein of humor that is new in my experience
of you. But what have you to tell me, Lucian? Frankly, your
hesitation is becoming ridiculous."
"You have certainly not made matters easier for me, Lydia. Perhaps
you have a womanly intuition of my purpose, and are intentionally
discouraging me."
"Not the least. I am not good at speculations of that sort. On my
word, if you do not confess quickly, I will hurry away to the
museum."
"I cannot find a suitable form of expression," said Lucian, in
painful perplexity. "I am sure you will not attribute any sordid
motive to my--well, to my addresses, though the term seems absurd. I
am too well aware that there is little, from the usual point of
view, to tempt you to unite yourself to me. Still--"
A rapid change in Lydia's face showed him that he had said enough.
"I had not thought of this," she said, after a silence that seemed
long to him. "Our observations are so meaningless until we are given
the thread to string them on! You must think better of this, Lucian.
The relation that at present exists between us is the very best that
our different characters will admit of. Why do you desire to alter
it?"
"Because I would make it closer and more permanent. I do not wish to
alter it otherwise."