slightest indication she must crush him ruthlessly and at the same time point the path of duty. He ought to marry some good girl‚ÅÝ‚Äînot Zora, but someone. Somehow Zora seemed too unusual and strange for him‚ÅÝ‚Äîtoo inhuman, as Mary Cresswell judged humanity. She glanced out from her seat on the upper veranda over the front porch and saw Alwyn coming. Where should she receive him? On the porch and have Mr. ¬ÝMaxwell ride up? In the parlor and have the servants astounded and talking? If she took him up to her own sitting-room the servants would think he was doing some work or fetching something for the school. She greeted him briefly and asked him in.
‚ÄúGood afternoon, Bles‚Äù‚ÅÝ‚Äîusing his first name to show him his place, and then inwardly recoiling at its note of familiarity. She preceded him upstairs to the sitting-room, where, leaving the door ajar, she seated herself on the opposite side of the room and waited.
He fidgeted, then spoke rapidly.
‚Äú Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell‚ÅÝ‚Äîthis is a personal affair.‚Äù She reddened angrily. ‚ÄúA love affair‚Äù‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe paled with something like fear‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äúand I‚Äù‚ÅÝ‚Äîshe started to speak, but could not‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚ÄúI want to know what you think about Zora?‚Äù
“About Zora!” she gasped weakly. The sudden reaction, the revulsion of her agitated feelings, left her breathless.
‚ÄúAbout Zora. You know I loved her dearly as a boy‚ÅÝ‚Äîhow dearly I have only just begun to realize: I‚Äôve been wondering if I understood‚ÅÝ‚Äîif I wasn‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
Mrs. ¬ÝCresswell got angrily to her feet.
‚ÄúYou have come here to speak to me of that‚ÅÝ‚Äîthat‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù she choked, and Bles thought his worst fears realized.