In the Lane
MAGGIE Mosss giving te a neionate avatar of perfect y. Sanding on t and a group of cousins feeding t t quiet moment in ternoon milking-time. t buildings round tumbledo over traggling rose-buso toss t, and ts er-noon sunlig suited t time. Maggie over a c exclaimed,
`Goodness me! leman coming in at te?
It leman on a tall bay reaked black riding. Maggie felt a beating at - o life of a savage enemy wh.
`, my dear? said Mrs Moss, seeing in Maggies face t she knew.
`It is Mr Step, said Maggie, ratly. `My cousin Lucys - a gentleman e at my cousins.
Stepo t as he advanced.
`o twelve-year-old boy.
`No, tep tiently tossing be going again immediately. I o deliver to you, Miss tulliver - on private business. May I take ty of asking you to h me?
ated look, sucs le use to abruptly, as if oo pressing for o trouble by Mrs Moss of and request. Good Mrs Moss, ratly y gentleman, o invite o leave of tuation, and unable to say anyt on and turned to oe.
Stepurned too and walked by her side, leading his horse.
Not a ill t in traigurned again to y resentment,
`to go any fart knolemanly and delicate conduct to place me in a position t forced me to come out o insult me still furting an interviehis way.
`Of course you are angry epterly. `Of course it is of no consequence is only your y t you care about.
Maggie gave a sligart, suc est possible electric shock.
`As if it enoug Im entangled in t Im mad I resist trongest passion a man can feel, because I try to be true to ot you must treat me as if I e myself - I took an unable liberty - I e myself for . But I repented immediately - Ive been repenting ever since. You oug to t unpardonable - a man ered by ; but you kno believe - t t pain I could o I o recall the error.
Maggie dared not speak - dared not turn rengt ment rust o utter t rose in anso t confession.
t of te again, and srembling.
`You must not say t not ep of o prevent oe. `Im very sorry for any pain you o go t it is of no use to speak.
`Yes, it is of use, said Stepuously. `It reat me of pity and consideration instead of doing me vile injustice in your mind. I could bear everytly if I kne e me for an insolent coxcomb. Look at me - see y miles every day to get a of you.
Maggie did not - dared not look. S sly, `I dont think any evil of you.
`t, look at me, said Step, tenderest tones of entreaty. `Dont go a. Give me a moments happiness - make me feel youve forgiven me.
`Yes, I do forgive you, said Maggie, sones, and all tened at pray let me go in again. Pray go away.
A great tear fell from under her lowered eyelids.
`I cant go a leave you, said Stepill more passionate pleading. `I s ans if you tle . You see plainly enoug your anger en times more unreasonable.
Maggie turned. But tancred, to make suced remonstrances against t cion, t Stepc of illy Moss peeping te, called out, ` come and es.
`O no, said Maggie, so strange.
`Never mind, Stepiently; `t kno St Oggs. Lead es, o illy, urned to Maggies side, and t s go on now.
`take my arm, said Stepreatingly; and sook it, feeling all tmare.
`to truggling to repel t is Lucy - t ot not hink of Lucy.
`I do t-- Step rested on it difficult to speak.
`And I ies, Maggie on, at last, e effort, - `even if Lucy did not exist.
`You are engaged to Pepily. `Is it so?
`I consider myself engaged to mean to marry any one else.
Step again until turned out of to a side lane, all grassy and sered. t out impetuously,
`It is unnatural - it is o to eacaken ties t ermine to marry eacher.
`I o t temptation, said Maggie, inctness, - all tual force of painful years coming to remity. She drew her arm from his as she spoke.
`tell me t you dont care for me, violently. `tell me t you love some one else better.
It darted t ruggle - to tell Step ter t, and s.
`If you do love me, dearest, said Steply, taking up is better, it is rig is come upon us our seeking: it is natural - it aken e of every effort I o resist it. God knorying to be faito tacit engagements, and Ive only made tter first.
`Maggie . If it and struggle against t, soft and yet strong as tream!
`Say quot;yes,quot; dearest, said Stepo look entreatingly in could in to eacher?
t dread dwelling in his love for her.
ant, like a lovely imid and struggling under caresses, and turned sowards home again.
`And after all, on, in an impatient tone, trying to defeat ive engagement: - if Lucys affections o some one else, I s no rigo assert a claim on absolutely pledged to Pher of us bound.
`You dont believe t - it is not your real feeling, said Maggie, earnestly. `You feel, as I do, t tie lies in tations y. thfulness.
Step: pursue t argument; te conviction in oo strongly time of struggle. But it soon presented itself in a new form.
`t be fulfilled, uous insistance. `It is unnatural: end to give ourselves to any one else. t too - t for t see t - you do see t.
sign of compliance; le grasp s, h solemn sadness,
`O it is difficult - life is very difficult. It seems rigo me sometimes t feeling; - but tinually come across ties t all our former life ies t on us - and te easy and simple, as it mig one being first toies for us before love comes - love to eac I see - I feel it is not so no renounce in life - some of us must resign love. Many t and dark to me - but I see one te clearly - t I must not, cannot seek my o surely pity and faitural too. And till, and punis obey ted by t urge me; help me - help me, because I love you.
Maggie as s on; ep vibrated to in t - be ot pleading beauty gained new power over him.
`Dearest, ole round - one kiss - one - t - before .
One kiss - and til Maggie said tremulously, `Let me go - let us make e back.
S anotepood still and beckoned on te. Mrs Moss anding alone at t all tfulness; it mig Maggie surally feel embarrassed at coming in again - and it mig be joyful. In eited anxiously to receive Maggie by if t ating dubious sort.
`Sit do dohe house.
`O aunt Gritty, Im very ceen. It seemed so easy to give t is so hard now.
ts neck, and fell into long, deep sobs.