You
must think well, dear Rex, before you ask Bedelia Guile to be your
wife."
"You know that I am--" he began, dully, and then burst into a
mirthless laugh. "And knowing who I am, why do you not leap at the
chance to become the Princess of Graustark? Why not realise an
ambition that--"
"Hush! You see how well I considered when I advised you to think
before speaking? You are now saying things that are unworthy of you.
You are forgetting that it is my privilege to say no to the am in
search of happiness. I too--"
He stood up, leaning far over the table, a penetrating look in his
eyes.
"How long have you known, Bedelia?"
"Since the second day out on the _Jupiter_," she replied serenely.
He slowly resumed his seat, overwhelmed by the sickening realisation
that his bubble had burst. She had known from the beginning. She had
played with him. She had defied him!
"I know what you are thinking, Rex," she said, almost pleadingly.
"You are thinking ill of me, and you are unjust. It was as fair for
me as it was for you.
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