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"What-as opposed to a woman?" Belle snapped "Of course it's a man"

"Well, I could have been completely off the mark Your favorite spaniel could have died"

"I don't have a spaniel," Belle said peevishly "It's a man"

"Doesn't he return your affections?"

"No" Her voice was heartbreakingly sad

"Are you certain?"

"I have reason to believe that he"- Belle chose her words carefully-"cares for me, but he feels that he cannot act on that emotion"

"Sounds like a chap with a little toolike that"

"Out of curiosity, Belle, just what is it about this fellow that has you so enamored of him?"

Her face immediately softened "I don't know, Dunford I really don't He has this marvelous sense of honor And humor, too He teases me, not in a malicious way, of course, and lets ood in him He can't see it, but I can Oh, Dunford, he needs me"

Dunford was silent for a moment "I'm sure that all is not lost We can uish smile "This sounds like the most fun I've had in years"

"I'm not sure it's worth the effort"

"Of course it is"

"I'm not sure I want hi to your oords not thirty seconds ago?"

"I wish I were as confident as you are"

"Look, Belle, you've been telling me for the last two years that you want a loveto throw it all away over a little pride?"

"I could find soly "I'm sure I could Men ask me all the time I wouldn't be unhappy"

"Maybe not But you wouldn't be happy either"

Belle sluht"

"What exactly does this plan entail?"

"The way I see it, if this man-just what is his name, anyway?"

"John"

Dunford smirked "Really, Belle, you can do better than that"