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"Will you sit down, please," I said, indicating a chair, where she would

face ht, so that no shade of her expression should be lost

uponed

to study hers so closely!) I felt less nervous than I have ever felt ith her I thought there

was the faintest shade of alertness in herwhich will surprise you very an

She raised her head a little

"I will put the case to you quite baldly--I am very rich as you know--I

am still horrid to look at--I am lonely and I want a companion ould

play the piano to me, and ould help me to write books, and who

would travel with s because

of the scandal people would o through the e ceremony--Miss Sharp--under those

terms will you marry me?"

Her attitude had become tense--her face did not flush, it became very

pale She remained perfectly silent for aover the top--a queer kind of exciteh or not

As she did not answer I went on "I would not expect anything from you