like that about my prospects,
you'd rather give up Ansdore than turn me down as you're doing."

"I do love you"--she said doggedly, "but I couldn't give up my farm for
you and come and live with you in London--because if I did, reckon I
shouldn't love you much longer. These last ten days have shown me more
than anything before that you'd make anyone you lived with miserable,
and if I hadn't my farm to take my thoughts off I'd just about die of
shame and sorrow."

He flushed angrily.

"Reelly, Joanna--what do you mean? I've given you as good a time as I
knew how."

"Most likely. But all the while you were giving me that good time you
were showing me how little you cared for me. Oh, it isn't as if I hadn't
been in love before and seen how good a man can be.... I don't want to
say hard things to you, my dear, but there's been times when you've hurt
me as no man could hurt a woman he really loved. And I've lived in your
home and seen how you treat your poor mother and your sister--and I tell
you the truth, though it hurts me--you ain't man enough for me."

"Well, if that's how you feel about me, we had certainly better not go
on."

"Don't be angry with me, dear. Reckon it was all a mistake from the
start--I'm too old for you."

"Then it's a pity we went as far as this. What'll mother and Agatha
think when they hear you've turned me down? They're cats enough to
imagine all sorts of things. Why do you dash off like this as if I was
the plague? If you must break off our engagement, you must, though I
don't want you to--I love you, even though you don't love me--but you
might at least do it decently. Think of what they'll say when they come
down and find you've bolted."

"I'm sorry, Bertie. But I couldn't bear to stick on here another hour.
You may tell them any story about me you like. But I can't stay. I must
think of myself a bit, since I've no one else to do it for me."

His face was like a sulky child's. He looked at the floor, and kicked
the wainscot.

"Well, I think you're treating me very badly, Joanna. Hang it all, I
love you--and I think you're a damn fine woman--I reelly do--and I don't
care if you are a bit older--I don't like girls."

"You won't think me fine in another ten years--and as for loving me,
don't talk nonsense; you don't love me, or I shouldn't be going. Now let
me go."

Her voice was hard, because her self-control was failing her. She tore
open the door, and pushed him violently aside