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"Ah," I said, "now I understand--"

"Understand what?"

"A hint of son--different--that there has always been about you"

"My mother was very beautiful, I believe I don't know, because I never saw her She died when I was quite a little child I believe there was soedy connected with her death--she took an overdose of soht by mistake However that may be, my father was broken-hearted Shortly afterwards, he went into the Consular Service Everywhere he went, I ith him When I enty-three, I had been nearly all over the world It was a splendid life--I loved it"

There was a smile on her face, and her head was thrown back She seelad days

"Then o and live with some old aunts in Yorkshire" She shuddered "You will understand ht up as I had been The narrowness, the deadly monotony of it, almost drove me mad" She paused a minute, and added in a different tone: "And then I ine that, froood match for hed with me No, he was simply a way of escape fro, and after a moment, she went on: "Don't misunderstand me I was quite honest with him I told him, as true, that I liked him very much, that I hoped to come to like him more, but that I was not in any hat the world calls 'in love' with him He declared that that satisfied hi tiathered on her forehead She see back earnestly into those past days

"I think--I am sure--he cared for me at first But I suppose ere not well matched Al for my pride, but it is the truth--tired of me very soon" I must have made some murmur of dissent, for she went on quickly: "Oh, yes, he did! Not that itof the ways"

"What do you mean?"