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My dear, am I perfectly hideous? she asked gaily, launching out one hand in search of the folds of muslin on her inaccessible bosom. My daughters tell me it doesnt matter at my ageas if hideousness didnt matter all the more the harder it gets to conceal! My dear, youre handsomer than ever! Archer rejoined in the same tone; and she threw back her head and laughed. Ah, but not as handsome as Ellen! she jerked out, twinkling at him maliciously; and before he could answer she added: Was she so awfully handsome the day you drove her up from the ferry? He laughed, and she continued: Was it because you told her so that she had to put you out on the way? In my youth young men didnt desert pretty women unless they were made to! She gave another chuckle, and interrupted it to say almost querulously: Its a pity she didnt marry you; I always told her so. It would have spared me all this worry. But who ever thought of sparing their grandmother worry? Archer wondered if her illness had blurred her faculties; but suddenly she broke out: Well, its settled, anyhow: shes going to stay with me, whatever the rest of the family say! She hadnt been here five minutes before Id have gone down on my knees to keep herif only, for the last twenty years, Id been able to see where the floor was! Archer listened in silence, and she went on: Theyd talked me over, as no doubt you know: persuaded me, Lovell, and Letterblair, and Augusta Welland, and all the rest of them, that I must hold out and cut off her allowance, till she was made to see that it was her duty to go back to Olenski. They thought theyd convinced me when the secretary, or whatever he was, came out with the last proposals: handsome proposals I confess they were. After all, marriage is marriage, and moneys moneyboth useful things in their way . . . and I didnt know what to answer She broke off and drew a long breath, as if speaking had become an effort. But the minute I laid eyes on her, I said: You sweet bird, you! Shut you up in that cage again? Never! And now its settled that shes to stay here and nurse her Granny as long as theres a Granny to nurse. Its not a gay prospect, but she doesnt mind; and of course Ive told Letterblair that shes to be given her proper allowance. The young man heard her with veins aglow; but in his confusion of mind he hardly knew whether her news brought joy or pain. He had so definitely decided on the course he meant to pursue that for the moment he could not readjust his thoughts. But gradually there stole over him the delicious sense of difficulties deferred and opportunities miraculously provided. If Ellen had consented to come and live with her grandmother it must surely be because she had recognised the impossibility of giving him up. This was her answer to his final appeal of the other day: if she would not take the extreme step he had urged, she had at last yielded to half-measures. He sank back into the thought with the involuntary relief of a man who has been ready to risk everything, and suddenly tastes the dangerous sweetness of security. She couldnt have gone backit was impossible! he exclaimed. Ah, my dear, I always knew you were on her side; and thats why I sent for you today, and why I said to your pretty wife, when she proposed to come with you: No, my dear, Im pining to see Newland, and I dont want anybody to share our transports. For you see, my dear she drew her head back as far as its tethering chins permitted, and looked him full in the eyesyou see, we shall have a fight yet. The family dont want her here, and theyll say its because Ive been ill, because Im a weak old woman, that shes persuaded me. Im not well enough yet to fight them one by one, and youve got to do it for me. I? he stammered. You. Why not? she jerked back at him, her round eyes suddenly as sharp as pen-knives. Her hand fluttered from its chair-arm and lit on his with a clutch of little pale nails like bird-claws. Why not? she searchingly repeated. |
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