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"As long as you give them the impression it's their idea to stop, too, is that it?"

"Yes," she said

"Frankly, Mother, I don't want to be that sort of a woman, that sort of a person I want to always say exactly what I feel and be as honest as possible and if a man can't stand that, he's not the man for me"

"Oh Pity," she said softly, more to herself than to me

"I don't think so, Mother"

She looked at hed deeply

"I just want you to be happy, Olivia"

"I will be happy, Mother, but on my own terms, with self-respect," I insisted

"Very well You're so sht e"

She stood up and gazed around my room a moment

"Youyour rooet new curtains and a new bedspread It will be easy to get your father to agree to that," she added

"Byit seem his idea?"

"Yes, exactly"

"I'm fine, Mother I'm fine as I am," I said

She nodded and then turned to leave, pausing at the doorway