The Eagle's Shadow by James Branch Cabell (online e book reader .txt) 📕

you knew I couldn't ask you to marry me so long as you
had the money?"

She dallied with her bliss. Margaret was on the other side of the
table.

"Why--why, of course it wasn't!" she panted. "What nonsense!"

"Look at me, Peggy!"

"I don't want to! You look like a fright with your head all tied up."

"Peggy ... this exercise is bad for an invalid."

"I--oh, please sit down! Please, Billy! It is bad for you."

"Not until you tell me----"

"But I don't!... Oh, you make me awfully tired."

"Peggy, don't you dare stamp your foot at me!... Peggy!"

"Please sit down! Now ... well, there's my hand, stupid, if you
will be silly. Now sit down here--so, with your head leaned back on
this nice little cushion because it's good for your poor head--and
I'll sit on this nice little footstool and be quite, quite honest. No,
you must lean back--I don't care if you can't see me, I'd much rather
you couldn't. Well, the truth is--no, you must lean back--the truth
is--I've loved you all my life, Billy Woods, and--no, not yet,
Billy--and if you hadn't been the stupidest beautiful in the universe
you'd have seen it long ago. You--you needn't--lean back--any longer,
Billy ... Oh, Billy, why didn't you shave?"

"She is skinny, isn't she, Billy?"

"Now, Peggy, you mustn't abuse Kathleen. She's a friend of mine."

"Well, I know she's a friend of yours, but that doesn't prevent her
being skinny, does it?"

"Now, Peggy--"

"Please, Billy! Please say she's skinny!"

"Er--well, she's a bit thin, perhaps."

"You angel!"

"And you're quite sure you've forgiven me for doubting you?"

"And you've forgiven me?"

"Bless you, Peggy, I never doubted you! I've been too busy loving
you."

"It seems to me as if it had been--always."

"Why, didn't we love one another in Carthage, Peggy?"

"I think it was in Babylon, Billy."

"And will love one another----?"

"Forever and ever, dear. You've been to seek a wife, Billy boy."

"And oh, the dimple in her chin..."

      *       *       *       *       *

Ah, well! There was a deal of foolish prattle there in the
firelight--delectable prattle, irresponsible as the chattering of
birds after a storm. And I fancy that the Eagle's shadow is lifted
from Selwoode, now that Love has taken up his abode there.

THE END

End of Project Gutenberg's The Eagle's Shadow, by James Branch Cabell