Chapter 14

           Whenshegotnearthepark-gate,sheheardtheclickofthelatch.Hewasthere,then,inthedarknessofthewood,andhadseenher!

           ’Youaregoodandearly,’hesaidoutofthedark.’Waseverythingallright?’

           ’Perfectlyeasy.’

           Heshutthegatequietlyafterher,andmadeaspotoflightonthedarkground,showingthepallidflowersstillstandingthereopeninthenight.Theywentonapart,insilence.

           ’Areyousureyoudidn’thurtyourselfthismorningwiththatchair?’sheasked.

           ’No,no!’

           ’Whenyouhadthatpneumonia,whatdiditdotoyou?’

           ’Ohnothing!itleftmyheartnotsostrongandthelungsnotsoelastic.Butitalwaysdoesthat.’

           ’Andyououghtnottomakeviolentphysicalefforts?’

           ’Notoften.’

           Sheploddedoninanangrysilence.

           ’DidyouhateClifford?’shesaidatlast.

           ’Hatehim,no!I’vemettoomanylikehimtoupsetmyselfhatinghim.IknowbeforehandIdon’tcareforhissort,andIletitgoatthat.’

           ’Whatishissort?’

           ’Nay,youknowbetterthanIdo.Thesortofyoungishgentlemanabitlikealady,andnoballs.’

           ’Whatballs?’

           ’Balls!Aman’sballs!’

           Sheponderedthis.

           ’Butisitaquestionofthat?’shesaid,alittleannoyed.

           ’Yousayaman’sgotnobrain,whenhe’safool:andnoheart,whenhe’smean;andnostomachwhenhe’safunker.Andwhenhe’sgotnoneofthatspunkywildbitofamaninhim,yousayhe’sgotnoballs.Whenhe’sasortoftame.’

           Sheponderedthis.

           ’AndisCliffordtame?’sheasked.

           ’Tame,andnastywithit:likemostsuchfellows,whenyoucomeupagainst’em.