“No, no, dear, I know better than you. For a long time I have watched you and I see that you need someone with years of experience of life to accompany you.”

I felt all pasted around by her smile. It was like a plaster upon the wounds which were to be inflicted upon me by the letter I held in my hand. Finally, through the bashful jalousies of her eyes, she said in a very low voice: “I shall think about it, dear. I shall think it over. And be sure that if I feel myself strong enough⁠ ⁠…”

“Great Well-Doer! Is it possible that my lot is?⁠ ⁠… Is it possible that she means to say, that she?⁠ ⁠…”