"I know," she was very sweet as she leaned toward him, "but, Porter,
sometimes, lately, I've wondered if that's all that is expected of us."
"All? What do you mean?"
"Aren't we expected to do something for others?"
"What others?"
She wanted to tell him about Roger Poole and the boy in the pines. Her
eyes glowed. But her lips were silent.
"What others, Mary?"
"The people who aren't as fortunate as we are."
"What people?"
Mary was somewhat vague. "The people who need us--to help."
"Marry me, and you can be Lady Bountiful--dispensing charity."
"It isn't exactly charity." She had again the vision of Roger Poole
and the boy. "People don't just want our money--they want us
to--understand."
He was not following her. "To think that you should want to go out in
the world--to work. Tell me why you are doing it."
"Because I need an outlet for my energies--the girl of limited income
in these days is as ineffective as a jellyfish, if she hasn't some
occupation."
"You could never be a jellyfish. Mary, listen, listen. I need you,
dear. I've kept still for a year--Mary!"
"Porter, I can't."
And now he asked a question which had smouldered long in his breast.
"Is there any one else?"
Was there? Her thoughts leaped at once to Roger. What did he mean to
her? What could he ever mean? He had said himself that he could
expect nothing. Perhaps he had meant that she must expect nothing.
"Mary, is it--Roger Poole?"
Her eyes came up to meet his; they were like stars. "Porter, I
don't--know."
He took the blow in silence. The shadows were on them now. In all the
beauty of the May twilight, the little bronze boy grinned at love and
at life.
"Has he asked you, Mary?"
"No. I'm not sure that he wants to marry me--I'm not sure that I want
to marry him--I only know that he is different." It was like Mary to
put it thus, frankly.
"No man could know you without wanting to marry you. But what has he
to offer you--oh, it is preposterous."
She faced him, flaming. "It isn't preposterous, Porter. What has any
man to offer any woman except his love? Oh, I know you men--you think
because you have money--but if--if--both of you loved me--you'd stand
before me on your merits as men--there would be nothing else in it for
me but that."