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Chapter XIX
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TheAngelliftedherheadandlookedintothedepthsofFreckles’honestgrayeyes,andtheymethersunwaveringly;butthepaininthemwaspitiful.
“Doyoumean,”shedemanded,“thatyoudon’trememberthatabrazen,forwardgirltoldyou,whenyouhadn’taskedher,thatshe”—theAngelchokedonitasecond,butshegaveagulpandbroughtitoutbravely—“thatshelovedyou?”
“No!”criedFreckles.“No!Idon’trememberanythingofthekind!”
Butallthesongbirdsofhissoulburstintomelodyoverthatonelittleclause:“Whenyouhadn’taskedher.”
“Butyouwill,”saidtheAngel.“Youmaylivetobeanold,oldman,andthenyouwill.”
“Iwillnot!”criedFreckles.“Howcanyouthinkit,Angel?”
“Youwon’tevenLOOKasifyouremember?”
“Iwillnot!”persistedFreckles.“I’llbeswearingtoitifyouwantmeto.Ifyouwasn’ttootiredtothinkthisthingoutstraight,you’dbeseeingthatIcouldn’t—thatIjustsimplycouldn’t!I’drathergiveitallupnowandgointoeternityalone,withouteverseeingasoulofmesameblood,ormehome,orhearinganothermancallmebythenameIwasbornto,thantorememberanythingthatwouldbehurtingyou,Angel.Ishouldthinkyou’dbeunderstandingthatitain’tnowayspossibleformetodoit.”
TheAngel’stear-stainedfaceflashedintodazzlingbeauty.Ahalf-hystericallittlelaughbrokefromherheartandbubbledoverherlips.
“Oh,Freckles,forgiveme!”shecried.
