terrible temptation. You know I 'm not naturally vicious, Pert; I must
have inherited this appetite I have had to fight so hard against. But
I am overcoming it--I 'll conquer it, Pert; and with you to be with me
to love me and help me, I 'll make a good man. I 'll make a place and
a name in the world. But I need you, darling--I love you, and I 'd
rather die than live without you. We 'll sell out this business, leave
this place, and go back to the East and civilization to live, where
there 's something to see and to do. You shall have everything,
anything, dear, that your heart desires--only say that you love me."
And bending nearer, he sought to draw her to him in a passionate
embrace.

Pert did not move from her position in the hammock; but firmly resisted
his endeavor, and, taking his arm from around her waist, simply handed
it back to him, as it were. (A maneuvre upon a girl's part more
aggravating, _en passant_, than any other one thing she can do.)

"I am sorry," she said, as Arthur still sat in the hammock beside her,
silent and downcast--"I 'm dreadfully sorry, Arthur, that you should
have brought this matter up again. We have been such friends so many
years, and you are such a good friend, when you are only a friend. I
hate to wound you, if, indeed, you care for me as you say you do; but I
do n't love you, Arthur, in the way you would have me, and I know I
never shall. It's best that I should tell you this plainly, and I know
you will be glad of it in the end. I am not the girl you think me,
Arthur. You do n't know me as I really am. If you did you 'd be glad
to have escaped so luckily. I always try to make a good impression,
but really I am willful, selfish and discontented. You would be
awfully sorry when it was too late. Believe me, I am telling the
truth. So let's never talk about this any more, but be the good
friends we have always been."

Arthur jumped up impatiently. "You are trifling with me, as you always
do," he said, with a savage ring in his voice. "I do n't care what
your faults are. I want you, just as you are, to be my wife. Care for
you as I say I do! I have loved you since we were children together.
I have never cared for any one else. My every thought has been for
your happiness. I have never spared trouble, time or money in doing
what I thought would please you--and why do you suppose I 've done so?
for fun? for glory? for something to pass away time? I tell you, P