Read Online Complete Works of Rudyard Kipling (Illustrated) by Rudyard Kipling - Free Book Online Page B

Even thus had Maisie spoken when she could not hit the breakwater, half an hour before she had kissed him. And that had happened yesterday.
    ‘Never mind,’ he said. ‘I’ll tell you something, if you’ll believe it.’ The words were shaping themselves of their own accord. ‘The whole thing, lock, stock, and barrel, isn’t worth one big yellow sea-poppy below Fort Keeling.’
    Maisie flushed a little. ‘It’s all very well for you to talk, but you’ve had the success and I haven’t.’
    ‘Let me talk, then. I know you’ll understand. Maisie, dear, it sounds a bit absurd, but those ten years never existed, and I’ve come back again. It really is just the same. Can’t you see? You’re alone now and I’m alone.
    What’s the use of worrying? Come to me instead, darling.’
    Maisie poked the gravel with her parasol. They were sitting on a bench.
    ‘I understand,’ she said slowly. ‘But I’ve got my work to do, and I must do it.’
    ‘Do it with me, then, dear. I won’t interrupt.’
    ‘No, I couldn’t. It’s my work, — mine, — mine, — mine! I’ve been alone all my life in myself, and I’m not going to belong to anybody except myself. I remember things as well as you do, but that doesn’t count. We were babies then, and we didn’t know what was before us. Dick, don’t be selfish. I think I see my way to a little success next year. Don’t take it away from me.’
    ‘I beg your pardon, darling. It’s my fault for speaking stupidly. I can’t expect you to throw up all your life just because I’m back. I’ll go to my own place and wait a little.’
    ‘But, Dick, I don’t want you to — go — out of — my life, now you’ve just come back.’
    ‘I’m at your orders; forgive me.’ Dick devoured the troubled little face with his eyes. There was triumph in them, because he could not conceive that Maisie should refuse sooner or later to love him, since he loved her.
    ‘It’s wrong of me,’ said Maisie, more slowly than before; ‘it’s wrong and selfish; but, oh, I’ve been so lonely! No, you misunderstand. Now I’ve seen you again, — it’s absurd, but I want to keep you in my life.’
    ‘Naturally. We belong.’
    ‘We don’t; but you always understood me, and there is so much in my work that you could help me in. You know things and the ways of doing things. You must.’
    ‘I do, I fancy, or else I don’t know myself. Then you won’t care to lose sight of me altogether, and — you want me to help you in your work?’
    ‘Yes; but remember, Dick, nothing will ever come of it. That’s why I feel so selfish. Can’t things stay as they are? I do want your help.’
    ‘You shall have it. But let’s consider. I must see your pics first, and overhaul your sketches, and find out about your tendencies. You should see what the papers say about my tendencies! Then I’ll give you good advice, and you shall paint according. Isn’t that it, Maisie?’
    Again there was triumph in Dick’s eye.
    ‘It’s too good of you, — much too good. Because you are consoling yourself with what will never happen, and I know that, and yet I want to keep you. Don’t blame me later, please.’
    ‘I’m going into the matter with my eyes open. Moreover the Queen can do no wrong. It isn’t your selfishness that impresses me. It’s your audacity in proposing to make use of me.’
    ‘Pooh! You’re only Dick, — and a print-shop.’
    ‘Very good: that’s all I am. But, Maisie, you believe, don’t you, that I love you? I don’t want you to have any false notions about brothers and sisters.’
    Maisie looked up for a moment and dropped her eyes.
    ‘It’s absurd, but — I believe. I wish I could send you away before you get angry with me. But — but the girl that lives with me is red-haired, and an impressionist, and all our notions clash.’
    ‘So do ours, I think. Never mind. Three months from to-day we shall be laughing at this together.’
    Maisie shook her head mournfully. ‘I knew