Viviette Part 19

"Don't you see that it's impossible, Viviette?" said Austin.

"Why?"

"I've explained it to d.i.c.k. He has hinted it to you. You're scarcely old enough to understand, my dear. It is the risk you run."

"Such men as I can't marry," said d.i.c.k loyally. "You don't understand.

Austin is right. The risk is too great."

She laughed in superb contempt.

"The risk? Do you think I'm such a fool as not to understand? Do you think, after what I've said, that I'm a child? Risk? What is life or love worth without risk? When a woman loves a fierce man she takes the risk of his fierceness. It's her joy. I'll take the risk, and it will be a bond between us."

Austin implored her to listen to reason. She swept his arguments aside.

"G.o.d forbid. I'll listen to love," she cried. "And if ever a man wanted love, it's d.i.c.k. Reason! Come, d.i.c.k, let us leave this G.o.d and G.o.ddess of reason alone. I've got something to say which only you can hear."

She dragged him in a bewildered state of mind to the door, which she held open. She was absolute mistress of the situation. She motioned to d.i.c.k to precede her, and he obeyed, like a man in a dream. On the threshold she paused, and flashed defiance at Austin, who appeared to her splendid scorn but a small, narrow-natured man.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I want you to love me forever and ever."]

"You can say and think what you like, you two. You are civilised people--and I suppose you love in a civilised way according to reason.

I'm a primitive woman, and d.i.c.k's a primitive man--and, thank G.o.d! we understand each other, and love each other as primitive people do."

She slammed the door, and in another moment was caught in d.i.c.k's great arms.

"What do you want to say that only I can hear?" he asked after a while.

"This," she said. "I want you to love me strongly and fiercely for ever and ever--and I'll be a great wife to you--and, if I fail--if I am ever wanton, as I have been to-day--for I have been wanton--and all that has happened has been my fault--if ever I play fast and loose with your love again--I want you to kill me. Promise!"

She looked at him with glowing eyes. All the big man's heart melted into adoring pity. He took her face in both his hands as tenderly as he would have touched a prize rose bloom.

"Thank G.o.d, you're still a child, dear," he said.