The situation, when explained, was
comprehensible to the meanest masculine intelligence.
"I will go," said I.
When I announced this determination to Lola she breathed a deep sigh of
relief.
"I shall be so much happier," she said.
Then she raised both her arms and drew my head down until our lips met.
"Dear," she whispered, still holding me, "if I hadn't run away from you
before I should run away now; but it would be silly to do it twice. So
I'll come to London as soon as the doctor will let me. But if you find
you don't and can't possibly love me I shan't feel hurt with you. I've
had some months, I know, of your love, and that will last me all my
life; and I know that whatever happens you'll be my very dear and
devoted friend."
"I shall be your lover always!" I swore.
She shook her head and released me. A great pity welled up in my heart,
for I know now why she had forbidden me to speak of marriage, and in
some dim way I got to the depth of her woman's nature. I realised,
as far as a man can, how the sudden blasting of a woman's beauty must
revolutionise not only her own attitude towards the world, but her
conception of the world's attitude towards her.
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