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"Don't talk like that," she said, gently "You are all I have now,

Rodney, and I don't want to lose you I'reatest comfort"

"I've heard you say that of a chair"

"As for loving me, you must not talk like that Under the circumstances,

it's indelicate"

"Oh!" he had said, and looked at her quickly "I can love you, but it's

indelicate to tell you about it!"

"I aet it?"

There was a real change in their relationship, but neither of theer playing Little

by little he had dropped his artistic posing for her benefit, his

cynical cleverness, his adroit sier

draot himself entirely His

passion had ceased to be spurious, and it was none the less real because

he loved not a real woman, but one of his own artistic creation

He saw in Natalie athe

burdens he kneith dignity and a certain beauty And behind her

slightly theatrical silences he guessed at other griefs, nobly borne and