Милий друг
Death and a Proposal
WhenwemeetinParis,youcantellmeyourdecision."
Heutteredthesewordswithoutglancingather,andsheseemednottohaveheardthem,forshestoodbyhissidemotionless,staringvaguelyandfixedlyatthelandscapebeforeher,bathedinmoonlight.
Atlengthshemurmured:"Itisratherchilly,"andturnedtowardthebed.Duroyfollowedher.Theydidnotspeakbutcontinuedtheirwatch.TowardmidnightGeorgesfellasleep.Atdaybreakthenurseenteredandhestartedup.BothheandMme.Forestierretiredtotheirroomstoobtainsomerest.Ateleveno’clocktheyroseandlunchedtogether;whilethroughtheopenwindowwaswaftedthesweet,perfumedairofspring.Afterlunch,Mme.Forestierproposedthattheytakeaturninthegarden;astheywalkedslowlyalong,shesuddenlysaid,withoutturningherheadtowardhim,inalow,gravevoice:
"Listentome,mydearfriend;Ihavealreadyreflecteduponwhatyouproposedtome,andIcannotallowyoutodepartwithoutawordofreply.Iwill,however,sayneitheryesnorno.Wewillwait,wewillsee;wewillbecomebetteracquainted.Youmustthinkitwellovertoo.Donotyieldtoanimpulse.ImentionthistoyoubeforeevenpoorCharlesisburied,becauseitisnecessary,afterwhatyouhavesaidtome,thatyoushouldknowmeasIam,inordernottocherishthehopeyouexpressedtomeanylonger,ifyouarenotamanwhocanunderstandandbearwithme."
"Nowlistencarefully:Marriage,tome,isnotachainbutanassociation.
