I
do now, but I hate divorces more. Oh, Mr. Ingelow! how could you behave
so disgracefully?"
And then all at once and without the slightest premonitory warning, the
young lady broke out crying hysterically, and to do it the better laid
her face on Mr. Ingelow's shoulder. And, that bold buccaneer of modern
society gathered the little girl close to his heart, like the
presumptuous scoundrel he was, and let her cry her fill; and the face
he bent over her was glorified and ecstatic.
"Stop crying, Mollie," he said at last, putting back the yellow curls,
and peeping at the flushed, wet, pretty face. "Stop crying, my dear
little wife, and look up and say, 'Hugh, I forgive you.'"
"Never!" said Mollie. "You cruel, tyrannical wretch, I hate you!"
And saying it, Mollie put her arms round his neck, and laughed and cried
wildly in the same breath.
"The hysterics will do you good, my dear," said Mr. Ingelow; "only don't
keep them up too long, and redden your precious blue eyes, and swell
your dear little nose. Mollie, is it possible you love me a little,
after all?"
Mollie lifted her face again, and looked at him with solemn, shining
eyes.
Pages:
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422