If you come in any other way than as a friend, if you
come on any other errand than friendship, you must not come here any
more. It isn't right for me to encourage you, and let you come here
and get your feelings enlisted. If you come here occasionally as a
friend in friendship I shall be happy to have you, but you must not
come here with any other hopes or feelings."
Charlotte's solemnly stilted words, and earnest, severe face chilled
the young man opposite. His face sobered. "You mean that you can't
ever think of me in any other way than as a friend," he said.
Charlotte nodded. "You know it is not because there's one thing
against you, Thomas."
"Then it is Barney, after all."
"I was all ready to marry him a few weeks ago," Charlotte said, with
a kind of dignified reproach.
Thomas colored. "I know it, Charlotte; I ought not to have
expected--I suppose you couldn't get over it so soon. I couldn't if I
had been in your place, and been ready to marry anybody. But I didn't
know about girls; I didn't know but they were different; I always
heard they got over things quicker. I ought not to have thought--
But, oh, Charlotte, if I wait, if you have a little more time, don't
you think you will feel different about it?"
Charlotte shook her head.
"But he is such a good-for-nothing dog to treat you the way he does,
Charlotte!" Thomas cried out, in a great burst of wrath and jealous
love.
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