I hope that we shall not; as,
doubtless, is your own mind."
She kept looking at me with that new deep look which I had seen when she
first entered the room.
I was moved, and I saw that just at the last she had spoken under
considerable strain. "Mrs. Falchion," said I, "I have THOUGHT harder
things of you than I ever SAID to any one. Pray believe that, and
believe, also, that I never tried to injure you. For the rest, I can make
no complaint. You do not like me. I liked you once, and do now, when you
do not depreciate yourself of purpose. . . . Pardon me, but I say this
very humbly too. . . . I suppose I always shall like you, in spite of
myself. You are one of the most gifted and fascinating women that I ever
met. I have been anxious for my friend. I was concerned to make peace
between you and your husband--"
"The man who WAS my husband," she interrupted musingly.
"Your husband--whom you so cruelly treated. But I confess I have found it
impossible to withhold admiration of you."
For a long time she did not reply, but she never took her eyes off my
face, as she leaned slightly forward.
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