I want to talk to you

"Oh, Coral--it's not decided?"She scrutinized him for a last penetrating moment; then shelooked away. "I'm never long deciding."He hesitated, choking with contradictory impulses, and afraid toformulate any, lest they should either mislead or pain her. 　　"Why didn't you tell me?" he questioned lamely; and instantlyperceived his blunder. 　　She sat down, and looked up at him under brooding lashes--had heever noticed the thickness of her lashes before? 　　"Would it have made any difference if I had told you?""Any difference--?""Sit down by me," she commanded. "I want to talk to you. Youcan say now whatever you might have said sooner. I'm notmarried yet: I'm still free.""You haven't given your answer?""It doesn't matter if I have."The retort frightened him with the glimpse of what she stillexpected of him, and what he was still so unable to give. 　　"That means you've said yes?" he pursued, to gain time. 　　"Yes or no--it doesn't matter. I had to say something. What Iwant is your advice.""At the eleventh hour?""Or the twelfth." She paused. "What shall I do?" shequestioned, with a sudden accent of helplessness. 　　He looked at her as helplessly. He could not say: "Askyourself--ask your parents." Her next word would sweep awaysuch frail hypocrisies. Her "What shall I do?" meant "What areyou going to do?" and he knew it, and knew that she knew it. 　　"I'm a bad person to give any one matrimonial advice," he began,with a strained smile; "but I had such a different vision foryou.""What kind of a vision?" She was merciless.