"It’s this," he said. "I--I wish I could make you believe that I’m not selfish in this. I wish I had some way of making you believe that I’m really thinking of _you_, first of all. You seem so--solitary, so--unprotected. Of course, I know you’re very self-reliant, and all that, but still, you’re only a young girl, after all." "I can take care of myself," she said sullenly. "I suppose you mean you don’t like the way I’ve been acting. Well, I----” "No!" he cried impatiently. "What nonsense! No! What I mean is--I think you’d better marry me." "Oh, Gawd!" cried Angelica, astounded. Eddie’s face grew scarlet. "Why shouldn’t you?" he said. "But----” "I’ve--I can offer you--I have a good income," he went on, angry and embarrassed. "I own Buena Vista, with a small mortgage on it. I have something invested, and I’m earning plenty. I’m doing well. I’ll be a rich man before long." "Yes, I know; but----” "And--I think I’d make a good husband. I admire you so much--I can’t tell you how much! I think you’re--wonderful. You haven’t a penny, you haven’t any family, any position----” "Now, look here!" she interrupted, threateningly. He hastened to repair his lack of tact. "I’m only mentioning that to show you that I think that you--just yourself--are worth more than any other woman on earth. It seems to me you have all the qualities I’ve always admired--pride, and spirit, and ambition, and strength--and then you’re so beautiful. I--really, Angelica, if you would marry me, I could do _anything_. I’m only twenty-nine, you know." "Oh, I thought you were much older!" said Angelica, glad of any distraction from this awful topic. To her amazement, Eddie sprang to his feet and looked down at her, quite pale with anger. "No doubt!" he cried. "No doubt you looked on me as a dull, tiresome, middle-aged man. You’re like all women--you _must_ have a handsome man--any fool with a handsome face, who’ll make you fine speeches! If I’d go down on my knees and rant and rave like a damned actor--but I won’t! I’m not that sort. I tell you, in a straightforward way, that I--I ask you to marry me. I’m--I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of--nothing! One or two little things in the past--but nothing serious. I mean, no one can reproach me. I’ve never harmed any one." "Oh, I know it!" she cried. "It’s not that. I know you’re good--too good for me. I think an awful lot of you, Mr. Eddie. Only----” "Only what?" "I couldn’t!" "Now, see here, Angelica, I haven’t much time. I’ve come away in the very middle of my office hours to--settle this. I can’t work, I can’t do anything until this is off my mind. It’s--_don’t_ be unreasonable, please, Angelica!" "I’m not, Mr. Eddie; but--I just can’t!" "Do you mean," he said, "that I’m--distasteful to you?"