"
The unbandaged half of her face lit up with a wan smile. "Did I do
that?"
"I didn't conceive it possible that you could love me except for the
outside things."
"You might have waited and seen," said I in mild reproof.
She sighed. "You'll never understand. Do you remember my saying once
that you reminded me of an English Duke?"
"Yes."
"You made fun of me; but you must have known what I meant. You see,
Simon, you didn't seem to care a hang for me in that way--until quite
lately. You were goodness and kindness itself, and I felt that you
would stick by me as a friend through thick and thin; but I had given up
hoping for anything else. And I knew there was some one only waiting for
you, a real refined lady. So when you kissed me, I didn't dare believe
it. And I had made you kiss me. I told you so, and I was as ashamed as
if I had suddenly turned into a loose woman. And when Miss Faversham
came, I knew it would be best for you to marry her, for all the
flattering things she said to me, I knew--"
"My dear," I interrupted, "you didn't know at all.
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