I suppose he was hoping to satisfy his conscience. Naturally I
refused it.'
'But--but--but why?'
'Why! Why did I refuse it? Surely you don't think I was going to
accept charity from the man who had cheated me?'
'But--but perhaps he didn't mean it like that. What I mean to say
is--as charity, you know.'
'He did! But don't let's talk of it any more. It makes me angry to
think of him, and there's no use spoiling a lovely day like this
by getting angry.'
Bill sighed. He had never dreamed before that it could be so
difficult to give money away. He was profoundly glad that he had
not revealed his identity, as he had been on the very point of
doing just when she began her remarks. He understood now why that
curt refusal had come in answer to his lawyer's letter. Well,
there was nothing to do but wait and hope that time might
accomplish something.
'What do you want me to do next?' he said. 'Why did you open the
hive? Did you want to take a look at the queen?'
Elizabeth hesitated. She blushed with pure shame. She had had but
one motive in opening the hive, and that had been to annoy him.
She scorned to take advantage of the loophole he had provided.
Beekeeping is a freemasonry. A beekeeper cannot deceive a
brother-mason.
She faced him bravely.
'I didn't want to take a look at anything, Mr Chalmers.
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