DOI article:
Harland, Henry: Flower o' the Clove
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25498#0098
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Flower o’ the Clove
know why they couldn’t be married legally. You know, too, how
he treated her—and how she died. Do you suppose I could
marry a woman who would always think of my mother as of one
who had done something shameful ? ”
“ Oh, but no woman with a spark of nobility in her soul would
or could do that,” Johannah cried.
“ Every woman brought up in the usual way, with the usual
prejudices, the usual traditions, thinks evil of the woman who has
had an illegitimate child.”
“ Not every woman. I, for instance. Do you imagine that I
could think evil of your mother, Will ? ”
“ Oh, you’re entirely different from other women. You’re-”
But he stopped at that.
“ Then—just for the sake of a case in point—if I were the
woman you chanced to be in love with, and if I simultaneously
chanced to be in love with you, you could see your way to marrying
me ? ”
“ What’s the use of discussing that?”
“ For its metaphysical interest. Answer me.”
“ There are other reasons why I couldn’t marry you.’’'
“ I’m not good-looking enough ? ”
“ Don’t be silly.”
“ Not young enough ? ”
“ Oh, I say ! Let’s talk of something reasonable.”
“ Not old enough, perhaps ? ”
He was silent.
“Not wise enough ? Not foolish enough ?” she persisted.
“You’re foolish enough, in all conscience,” said he.
“Well, then, why? What are the reasons why you couldn’t
marry me P ”
“ What is the good of talking about this ! ”
“ I want
Flower o’ the Clove
know why they couldn’t be married legally. You know, too, how
he treated her—and how she died. Do you suppose I could
marry a woman who would always think of my mother as of one
who had done something shameful ? ”
“ Oh, but no woman with a spark of nobility in her soul would
or could do that,” Johannah cried.
“ Every woman brought up in the usual way, with the usual
prejudices, the usual traditions, thinks evil of the woman who has
had an illegitimate child.”
“ Not every woman. I, for instance. Do you imagine that I
could think evil of your mother, Will ? ”
“ Oh, you’re entirely different from other women. You’re-”
But he stopped at that.
“ Then—just for the sake of a case in point—if I were the
woman you chanced to be in love with, and if I simultaneously
chanced to be in love with you, you could see your way to marrying
me ? ”
“ What’s the use of discussing that?”
“ For its metaphysical interest. Answer me.”
“ There are other reasons why I couldn’t marry you.’’'
“ I’m not good-looking enough ? ”
“ Don’t be silly.”
“ Not young enough ? ”
“ Oh, I say ! Let’s talk of something reasonable.”
“ Not old enough, perhaps ? ”
He was silent.
“Not wise enough ? Not foolish enough ?” she persisted.
“You’re foolish enough, in all conscience,” said he.
“Well, then, why? What are the reasons why you couldn’t
marry me P ”
“ What is the good of talking about this ! ”
“ I want