第75章 Chapter 6(6)

"Do you then make nothing at all of her having been so ready to leave us?"

Ah Charlotte on the contrary made much! "She was ready to leave us because she had to be. From the moment the Prince wanted it she could only go with him."

"Perfectly--so that if you see your way she'll be able to 'go with him' in future as much as she likes."

Charlotte appeared to examine for a minute, in Maggie's interest, this privilege--the result of which was a limited concession. "You've certainly worked it out!"

"Of course I've worked it out--that's exactly what I HAVE done. She had n't for a long time been so happy about anything as at your being there with me."

(225) "I was to be with you," said Charlotte, "for her security."

"Well," Adam Verver rang out, "this IS her security. You've only, if you can't see it, to ask her."

"'Ask' her?"--the girl echoed it in wonder.

"Certainly--in so many words. Telling her you don't believe me."

Still she debated. "Do you mean write it to her?"

"Quite so. Immediately. To-morrow."

"Oh I don't think I can write it," said Charlotte Stant. "When I write to her"--and she looked amused for so different a shade--"it's about the Principino's appetite and Dr. Brady's visits."

"Very good then--put it to her face to face. We'll go straight to Paris to meet them."

Charlotte, at this, rose with a movement that was like a small cry; but her unspoken sense lost itself while she stood with her eyes on him--he keeping his seat as for the help it gave him, a little, to make his appeal go up. Presently, however, a new sense had come to her, and she covered him kindly with the expression of it. "I do think, you know, you must rather 'like' me."

"Thank you," said Adam Verver. "You WILL put it to her yourself then?"

She had another hesitation. "We go over you say to meet them?"

"As soon as we can get back to Fawns. And wait there for them, if necessary, till they come."

"Wait--a--at Fawns?"

"Wait in Paris. That will be charming in itself."

(226) "You take me to pleasant places." She turned it over. "You propose to me beautiful things."

"It rests but with you to make them beautiful and pleasant. You've made Brighton--!"

"Ah!"--she almost tenderly protested. "With what I'm doing now?"

"You're promising me now what I want. Are n't you promising me," he pressed, getting up, "are n't you promising me to abide by what Maggie says?"

Oh she wanted to be sure she was. "Do you mean she'll ASK it of me?"

It gave him indeed, as by communication, a sense of the propriety of being himself certain. Yet what WAS he but certain?" She'll speak to you.

She'll speak to you FOR me."

This at last then seemed to satisfy her. "Very good. May we wait again to talk of it till she has done so?"

He showed, with his hands down in his pockets and his shoulders expressively up, a certain disappointment. Soon enough, none the less, his gentleness was all back and his patience once more exemplary. "Of course I give you time. Especially," he smiled, "as it's time that I shall be spending with you. Our keeping on together will help you perhaps to see. To see I mean how I need you."

"I already see," said Charlotte, "how you've persuaded yourself you do." But she had to repeat it. "That is n't unfortunately all."

"Well then how you'll make Maggie right "

"'Right'?" She echoed it as if the word went far. And "O-oh!" she still critically murmured as they moved together away.