I can't love you, Philip, I mustn't
let myself even think of it!"
"Don't talk nonsense, you blessed child,--you've settled it all when you
say you love me! Oh, Azalea, I'm _so_ glad, and proud and happy!"
Azalea gave a start as his arms closed round her. "No!" she cried, "no,
dear, don't! oh, please don't!"
"Why, darling? Why mayn't I caress my own love,--my promised wife?"
"Oh, no,--I'm not! I can never be your wife! I'm--I'm not worthy!"
"Hush!" and Van Reypen closed her lips with a tender kiss. "Hush,
Azalea, never use the words worthy or unworthy between us. Our love
makes us worthy of each other, whatever we may be otherwise."
"Stop,--please stop! Every word you say makes it harder! I can't stand
it! It's too dreadful. Let me go,--oh, _please_, let me go!"
Shuddering as with some great fear, Azalea slipped from his arms and ran
away. He heard her steps as she went upstairs, and heard a door
close,--evidently she had flown to her own room.
Greatly perplexed, Phil went in search of Patty.
"Help me out," he said, in a low tone. "Azalea has gone to her room,
and there is certainly something troubling her. Go to her, Patty,--find
out what it all means,--and if it is any foolishness about 'unworthiness'
or that rubbish, try to make her see that I want her just as she is. I
don't care a hang about her ancestors or her father or anything in the
whole world, but just Azalea Thorpe!"
Patty looked at his earnest face, and honestly rejoiced that he had
found a girl he could care for like that.
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