"
"There's no reason we shouldn't stay here- if you don't dislike
it. It's very warm; there will be half an hour yet before dark; and if
you permit it I'll light a cigarette."
"You may do what you please," said Isabel, "if you'll amuse me
till seven o'clock. I propose at that hour to go back and partake of a
simple and solitary repast- two poached eggs and a muffin- at
Pratt's Hotel."
"Mayn't I dine with you?" Ralph asked.
"No, you'll dine at your club."
They had wandered back to their chairs in the centre of the square
again, and Ralph had lighted his cigarette. It would have given him
extreme pleasure to be present in person at the modest little feast
she had sketched; but in default of this he liked even being
forbidden. For the moment, however, he liked immensely being alone
with her, in the thickening dusk, in the centre of the multitudinous
town; it made her seem to depend upon him and to be in his power. This
power he could exert but vaguely; the best exercise of it was to
accept her decisions submissively- which indeed there was already an
emotion in doing. "Why won't you let me dine with you?" he demanded
after a pause.
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