by Mark Wicks
CHAPTER XXIII
I HAVE A SERIOUS TALK WITH JOHN
For some days past it had been becoming more and more evident to me thatJohn was quite infatuated with Siloni, and also that she was notunwilling to receive his attentions. I could, therefore, no longerremain a silent spectator, so took the first opportunity of our beingalone to broach the subject to him.
I began by saying, "John, have you any idea of remaining upon thisplanet for the rest of your life?"
He looked round at me and flushed up. Then, after a little hesitation,said, "No, Professor; why do you ask such a question as that?"
"Because, John," I answered, "it seems to me a very necessary questionto ask. If you are going away from here very shortly, what is themeaning of your attentions to our handsome young friend Siloni? You mustexcuse my speaking of this, but I do not like to see you placingyourself in a false position. Don't you think it would be wise to see alittle less of the lady in question during the remainder of your stayhere?"
"Well, perhaps so, Professor," he replied rather reluctantly. "I neverthought it would come to this with me, considering that I am now on thewrong side of forty. It has been said that a man does not know what lovereally is until he has passed that age, and certainly I never did.Candidly, Professor, I must confess that I am very hard hit; and I knowpretty well now what it means to be over head and ears in love with themost charming girl I ever met in my life!
"Do not imagine I have not seen the difficulty of the situation; but,really, I am puzzled to know what to do for the best. I am sure thatdear girl would have me, and if I take her to England----"
"John," I interrupted, "my dear boy, what can you be thinking of? How isit possible that you can take to England as your wife a Martian girl,who stands considerably over seven feet in height!
"Even supposing it were possible that she could live in the atmosphereand climate of our country, she would be entirely isolated from everyone, and, moreover, would be an object of public curiosity wherever shewent.
"It would really be most unjust, humiliating, and cruel to Siloni; andyou would be made very unhappy owing to the way she would be treated."
John looked down and fidgeted his feet about on the floor as he ponderedin deep thought for some minutes, then looking up at me, he said, "Isuppose you are right, Professor; you generally are; and that I havebeen rather foolish; but really I was thoroughly caught in the toilsbefore I realised it. Now, what would you advise me to do in thematter?"
"I should advise you now as I did at first," I replied--"see less ofSiloni. I suppose you have not actually spoken to her on the subjectyet?"
"Oh no," he answered quickly, "I have not gone so far as that; butSiloni must be aware of my regard for her."
"Well, that being the case," I said, "you cannot very well say anythingnow, for it would place her in a most awkward and unpleasant position.You cannot tell her you were going to propose, but have thought betterof it. Your only course, John, is to keep away from her as much aspossible without appearing to do so intentionally."
"But won't she think it very strange behaviour on my part if I avoid hernow, after being so much in her company?" he asked desperately, as if inhopes that I might not press him to give up the idea of continuing asbefore.
"No, John, I do not think so," I replied. "You know she is a Martian,and if she has not already some intuition of the situation, the verynext time you see her this trouble will be on your mind, and she willbecome aware of the exact position of affairs; and I have no doubt shewill accept the situation, though it will probably cause herconsiderable pain. You should have thought of all this sooner, my boy.It is a great pity this has happened, but there is no help for it now,and no other honourable way out of it that I can see. I am, however,extremely sorry for you both."
"Thank you, Professor," he exclaimed, grasping me fervently by the hand;"but it is very hard luck indeed."
He was very quiet and self-absorbed for several days after that, butthings turned out just as I anticipated. The next time he and Siloni metand conversed together, she became aware of the change in him, anddivined the reason of it. She said nothing, but he knew she understood;and, except that she was quieter, she never made any difference in herbehaviour towards him when they met occasionally afterwards.
So, though I was sorry in some respects, I was very glad that thisawkward matter was settled.
