"Dear old friend," she said, drawing near him and taking the role of
comforter at once. "Do not think I blame you. I know you did your best
with your blessed, nigh-to glasses on, but we younger folks have long
vision, you know. Do you remember how you once told me to swallow your
pills without biting them? I obeyed you for a long, long time; but I've
bitten this one! It's bitter, but it is for the best. The medicine is in
the pills; we might as well know."
"See here, Margaret, I'm not going to use your father's weapons. I only
ask you--to wait! Do not break your engagement; let me see Huntter. Do
not speak to him of this. I can explain, and--" he paused--"if the worse
comes to the worst, the wedding can be postponed; then things can happen
gradually."
"No," Margaret shook her head. "This is his affair and mine, and our love
lies between us. I want--oh! I want to make him feel as I do, if I can;
but above all else he must know that whatever I do is done in love. You
see, I cannot hate him now; by and by it would be different if we were
not just to each other."
"My poor girl! Do you women think you are going to be happier, the world
better, because of--things like this? Men have thought it out!"
"Alone, yes.
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