The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
to each other for ever more — no one could attempt to part us, and we could be married
in church afterwards, you know."
Still silence, save for that eloquent beating of Simon's heart; by-and-bye Rachel twisted
round her face a little and peered up at his, and read, amid all its passionate tenderness,
evidence of some inward struggle.
"Why do you hesitate?" she broke out quickly. “Oh, Simon, do you not see how your
hesitation humiliates me. You will risk nothing for me; you do not love me as I love
you."
“My dear," said Simon, "it is because I love you so much that I hesitate. I would risk
anything in the wide world for the happiness of calling you mine, except your precious
self. Oh, I have no words to tell you what I think of your sweet trust — but for that very
reason I shrink from taking advantage of it. You are so sacred to me, I would have
everything about you sacred in the eyes of the world as well as in my own. I would not
have it in the power of any one to condemn your conduct. You are so innocent, so
confiding — but I, who am older and wiser, should take care of you."
“Simon," said Rachel, “I am quite old enough to
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know my own mind, and I understand very well what is needful for my happiness. I
know I could not endure the anxiety and uncertainty of such an engagement as ours is
likely to be — secret, if we are to be engaged at all; dragging on for Heaven knows how
long — and I am very sure that I shall be safe and happy as your wife. Therefore have
done with scruples. If you would like to marry me take me away this evening."
Then, as he looked down at the beautiful glowing face, Simon forgot everything but that
the highest good which life could offer was, if he chose, to be his beyond the possibility
of recall. It was within his grasp, how could he but choose to secure it? The unfair
treatment he had received seemed to justify the proposed plan of action, and if he had
any lingering qualms they were speedily overpowered by the pleadings of his great
love.
It was therefore hurriedly decided that Simon should meet Rachel at the corner of the
wood near his house — the self-same in which Mrs. Charnock had once been like to