A GIFT OF DAISIES by Owner

Author:Owner [Owner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

"It all amounts, to the same thing, Rache," Algernon said. "Only time will tell if he will grow out of it or not. In the meantime, it would be safer not to encourage an attachment between him and Miss Barnes. She deserves better. Besides, I have not noticed that either one of them has any partiality for the other."

"Hm." Rachel looked thoughtful. She and Algernon were strolling arm in arm through the trees on their way back from the river to the house. They were a few minutes behind all the other guests, Algernon having stayed to give instructions to the servants. "You may be right, Algie. But I have so set my heart on helping her find a husband before she goes back home again. And he is a pleasant enough man. What do you think of Mr. Hart, then?"

"That he enjoys sighing over you, Rache," he said, "and imagines himself doomed to a tragic fate because you will not take him seriously. The man is well-named."

"Oh, dear," Rachel said. "I really do not do anything to entice him, you know."

Algernon gave her a sidelong look. "Rache," he said, "ensnaring men is the breath of life to you when you have nothing better to do with your time."

"Oh," she said, pulling her hand from his arm and coloring up indignantly. "What a dreadful thing to say. Are you implying that I am a flirt, my lord?"

"No, I am not," Algernon said, looking at her along the length of his nose. "And what is this 'my lord' business all of a sudden?"

Indignation left Rachel as fast as it had come. "Oh, don't look at me in that ridiculous lordly manner, Algie," she said. "You know that it does not awe me in the least. It merely makes you look silly. But you do not really think I am a flirt, do you? I do not mean to be, you know. I cannot seem to help the fact that gentlemen gather around me wherever I go."

"It's just your nature, Rache," he said in a consolatory manner.

Rachel's eyes looked troubled. She had stopped walking and was gazing up at him. "Algie," she said, "all I really want is you, you know. I would not care if I never set eyes on another man as long as we could be married and live here together. I just want to make you happy. You do believe that, do you not? I do love you."

"Rache," he said, laying a hand on her shoulder and giving it a comradely squeeze, "I thought we had agreed not to talk like this while all your guests are here. And don't take to heart what I have been saying. I have been teasing you. You are quite perfect the way you are, you know."

"Am I?" Rachel gazed up at him forlornly. "I think you had better be very strict with me when we are married, Algie. Don't let me flirt. You must beat me if necessary."

Algernon looked searchingly at her, his face unsmiling.

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