Mr. Meeson's Will by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard
page 63 of 235 (26%)
page 63 of 235 (26%)
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"There is nobody else, Mr. Tombey; and, I am sorry to say, you don't know how much it pains me to say it, I cannot hold out any prospect that I shall change my mind." He dropped his head upon his hands for a minute, and then lifted it again. "Very well," he said slowly; "it can't be helped. I never loved any woman before, and I never shall again. It is a pity "--(with a hard, little laugh)--"that so much first-class affection should be wasted. But, there you are; it is all part and parcel of the pleasant experiences which make up our lives. Good-bye, Miss Smithers; at least, good-bye as a friend!" "We can still be friends," she faltered. "Oh, no," he answered, with another laugh; "that is an exploded notion. Friendship of that nature is not very safe under any circumstances, certainly not under these. The relationship is antagonistic to the facts of life, and the friends, or one or other of them, will drift either into indifference and dislike, or--something warmer. You are a novelist, Miss Smithers; perhaps some day you will write a book to explain why people fall in love where their affection is not wanted, and what purpose their distress can possibly serve. And now, once more, good bye!" and he lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed it, and then, with a bow, turned and went. From all of which it will be clearly seen that Mr. Tombey was decidedly a young man above the average, and one who took punishment very well. |
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