And we must begin at once; for, as I told you, the
house is afire."
She opened her lips to speak.
"No--not yet," said he. "One thing more. You've been thinking
things about me. Well, do you imagine this busy brain of mine
hasn't been thinking a few things about you? Why, Margaret, you
need me even more than I need you, though I need you more than I'd
dare try to tell you. You need just such a man as me to give you
direction and purpose--REAL backbone. Primping and preening in
carriages and parlors--THAT isn't life. It's the frosting on the
cake. Now, you and I, we're going to have the cake itself. Maybe
with, maybe without the frosting. BUT NOT THE FROSTING WITHOUT THE
CAKE, MARGARET!"
"So!" she exclaimed, drawing a long breath when he had ended. "So!
THIS is why you chose that five o'clock train and sent Selina
back. You thought to--"
He laughed as if echoing delight from her; he patted her
enthusiastically on the knee. "You've guessed it! Go up head! I
didn't want you to have time to say and do foolish things."
She bit her lip till the blood came. Ringing in her ears and
defying her efforts to silence them were those words of his about
the cake and the frosting--"the cake, maybe with, maybe without
frosting; BUT NOT THE FROSTING WITHOUT THE CAKE!" She started to
speak; but it was no interruption from him that checked her, for
he sat silent, looking at her with all his fiery strength of soul
in his magnetic eyes.
Pages:
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348