With an effort he made up his mind to speak at last.
In plain and simple words he asked her reverently the same question
that Alan had asked her so long ago on the Holmwood.
Herminia's throat flushed a rosy red, and an unwonted sense of
pleasure stole over that hard-worked frame as she listened to his
words; for indeed she was fond of him. But she answered him at
once without a moment's hesitation. "Harvey, I'm glad you ask me,
for I like and admire you. But I feel sure beforehand my answer
must be NO. For I think what you mean is to ask, will I marry
you?"
The man gazed at her hard. He spoke low and deferentially. "Yes,
Herminia," he replied. "I do mean, will you marry me? I know,
of course, how you feel about this matter; I know what you have
sacrificed, how deeply you have suffered, for the sake of your
principles. And that's just why I plead with you now to ignore
them. You have given proof long ago of your devotion to the right.
You may surely fall back this second time upon the easier way of
ordinary humanity. In theory, Herminia, I accept your point of
view; I approve the equal liberty of men and women, politically,
socially, personally, ethically.
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