FLAMING
YOUTH
“Because you’ve never suffered,
271.
You’ve never had to
take punishment.” “Have you?” “Tm taking it now, in the thought of our separation. Pat, for God’s sake let me get free, if it is only to be ready, in case——” “No; no; no!” she denied vehemently.
“I won’t be—
captured, compelled. You can go if you want soon as you want to.” “Pat
to, as
1?
“Yes; I know.” MHer lips brushed his cheek in sweet contrition. “That was mean of me. But I just—don’t —want—to—marry you.” She spaced the words with rhythmic deliberation. “I don’t want to marry anybody. . . . And have a lot of kids. . . . And look like Con does now. She waddles.... Cary, were you her lover?” she demanded abruptly. “No
[23
“T couldn’t bear it if you had been. that anyway, “Tt’s quite “Tf anyone all your gods SV
But you’d say
wouldn’t you? Even to me?” true. I never was.” asked you that about me you’d swear by you weren’t. Wouldn’t you?”
es,”?
“You'd lie about it? I hate to think of your lying. I wonder whether I would if it was put up to me or whether I'd admit that we are lovers.” She brooded darkly for a moment over the word. “I didn’t mean to be, you know,” she added naively. “Whatever fault there was is mine,” he claimed hoarsely,. “Tf there is any just God if She slipped her fingers over his lips, cutting him short“Don’t, Cary. Don’t say ‘if.’ Of course there is,”
“Then He will hold me responsible; not you.”
