eBooks Base 2000

"So you are bound to play a straight game with him--dear child. Believe
me he deserves it, is finely worthy of it. Be open with him. Show him
your letter. Ask his permission--if you have sufficient courage. Your
courage is the measure of the sincerity of your desire in this business.
Do you follow me?"
"Yes--but I shall distress him," Damaris mournfully argued.
She was bewildered, and in her bewilderment held to the immediate
and obvious.
"Less than by shutting him out from your confidence, by keeping him at
arm's length."
"Neglecting him?"
"Ah! so that rankles still, does it? Yes, neglecting him just a
trifle, perhaps."
"But the neglect is over--indeed, it is over and utterly done with."
And in the ardour of her disclaimer, Damaris pressed against Carteret,
her face upturned and, since she too was tall, very close to his.
"Just because it is over and done with I begged you to bring me back
with you to-night. I wanted to make a clean break with all the
frivolities, while everything was quite clear to me.


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