"She would not tell any one
else, I am quite sure. But she saw that I was really anxious--that I
must know it--that it was not from curiosity I asked."
"Not from curiosity!" she repeated, still hiding her burning face with
her hands.
"No, it was from a very different motive." And then he paused abruptly.
What was he going to say? How far had he already left all
conventionality behind? He stopped just in time, and then continued,
gravely: "The Duchess of Hazlewood and myself are such true and tried
friends that we never think of keeping any secrets from each other. We
have been, as I told you before, brother and sister all our lives--it
was only natural that she should tell me about you."
"And, having heard my story, you ask me to be one of your friends?" she
said, slowly. There were pain and pathos in her voice as she spoke.
"Yes," he replied, "having heard it all, I desire nothing on earth so
much as to win your friendship."
"My mother?" she murmured.
"Yes--your mother's unfortunate marriage, and all that came of it. I can
repeat the story."
"Oh, no!" she interrupted. "I do not wish to hear it.
Pages:
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203