Rupert might have had a dozen girls, for there's lots of
meek women like his overbearing, brutal sort and would have been very well
content to take him, well knowing he spelled safety if no more; but for
him, a saver and dealer in the main chance to marry at all, let alone an
object like Minnie, meant far more than I could fathom out. He'd said
himself there was more to her than met the eyes, and no doubt there was;
but her promise was hidden from me, and I puzzled half that night and
three parts of the next day, though all in vain.
There was my own sad case also, and, of course, a very painful duty lay in
front of me. But I ain't one to let misery fester and so, twenty-four
hours after my shocking adventure with Gregory, I went right over to
Arthur Parable and told him all.
He was a good bit amused, in fact I never heard him laugh so hearty, and I
got a thought hot about it; but he hadn't nothing much to say except I was
well rid of Mr. Sweet. "A man like that," said Arthur, "was never meant to
wed. Caution such as his in the home would mighty soon have drove you
daft. And there's the makings of a tyrant in Gregory, by your own showing,
for the man who resents freedom to his woman before marriage, may very
like lock her up afterwards."
"I weren't his woman," I said, "and I didn't take it lying down, neither.
He got the truth, and he didn't like it.
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