CHAPTER XXIV 332
" Now , King Ahasuerus ! What do I want with half your estate ? Do you think I am a Jew-usurer , seeking good investment in land ? I would much rather have all your confidence . You will not exclude me from your confidence if you admit me to your heart ?"
" You are welcome to all my confidence that is worth having , Jane ; but for God ' s sake , don ' t desire a useless burden ! Don ' t long for poison -- don ' t turn out a downright Eve on my hands !"
" Why not , sir ? You have just been telling me how much you liked to be conquered , and how pleasant over-persuasion is to you . Don ' t you think I had better take advantage of the confession , and begin and coax and entreat -- even cry and be sulky if necessary -- for the sake of a mere essay of my power ?"
" I dare you to any such experiment . Encroach , presume , and the game is up ."
" Is it , sir ? You soon give in . How stern you look now ! Your eyebrows have become as thick as my finger , and your forehead resembles what , in some very astonishing poetry , I once saw styled , ' a blue-piled thunderloft .' That will be your married look , sir , I suppose ?"
" If that will be YOUR married look , I , as a Christian , will soon give up the notion of consorting with a mere sprite or salamander . But what had you to ask , thing , -- out with it ?"
" There , you are less than civil now ; and I like rudeness a great deal better than flattery . I had rather be a THING than an angel . This is what I have to ask , -- Why did you take such pains to make me believe you wished to marry Miss Ingram ?"
" Is that all ? Thank God it is no worse !" And now he unknit his black brows ; looked down , smiling at me , and stroked my hair , as if well pleased at seeing a danger averted . " I think I may confess ," he continued , " even although I should make you a little indignant , Jane -- and I have seen what