"Does she strike you as very happy?" Ralph enquired, emboldened by
this confidence.
"Well, I don't know; I've hardly thought. She told me the other
night she was happy."
"Ah, she told you, of course," Ralph exclaimed, smiling.
"I don't know that. It seems to me I was rather the sort of person
she might have complained to."
"Complained? She'll never complain. She has done it-what she has
done-and she knows it. She'll complain to you least of all. She's very
careful."
"She needn't be. I don't mean to make love to her again."
"I'm delighted to hear it. There can be no doubt at least of your
duty."
"Ah no," said Lord Warburton gravely; "none!"
"Permit me to ask," Ralph went on, "whether it's to bring out the
fact that you don't mean to make love to her that you're so very civil
to the little girl?"
Lord Warburton gave a slight start; he got up and stood before the
fire, looking at it hard. "Does that strike you as very ridiculous?"
"Ridiculous? Not in the least, if you really like her."
"I think her a delightful little person. I don't know when a girl of
that age has pleased me more."
"She's a charming creature.
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