Not only the futility of such action, but
my own dignity and sense of right, forbid it. I did not understand
her at first. Now that I do, I am all the more eager to call her
daughter; but I wish her to feel toward me as she should in such a
relation. Yesterday, when I apologized and told her that I meant to
treat her with kindness and fairness, she kissed me like the warm-
hearted girl she is. I will help you win her as a man should win his
wife; I will not be dragged into any more false positions which can
end only in humiliation. I will be your tireless ally in the only
way you can succeed, but in no other."
"Very well, mother, I agree," said Whately, whose nature it was to
react from one extreme to another.
"Ah, now I have hope. How is your arm?"
"It pains horribly."
Mrs. Whately went to Miss Lou's room and said, "Forgive me for
keeping you waiting. Madison is almost beside himself with pain in
his arm, and I will be detained a little longer."
In her immense relief that she was not charged with all she dreaded,
Miss Lou had leisure from her fears to feel commiseration for her
cousin.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362