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Walpole, Hugh, Sir, 1884-1941

"The Captives"

"Just because she doesn't chatter like a
magpie you concluded she's got nothing to say. It's even conceivable
that she found you dull, Amy."
Amy looked at him with a strange penetrating glance that in some
undefined way increased his irritation. "It's quite possible," she
said quietly. "But I don't think even you, Martin, can call her
handsome. As to her intelligence, she never gave me a chance of
judging."
"I've been there several times," said Martin hotly. "I like her
immensely." He felt as soon as he had spoken that it had been a
foolish thing to say. He saw Mr. Thurston smile. In the pause that
followed he felt as though he had with a gesture of the hand flung a
stone into a pool of chatter and scandal whose ripples might spread
far beyond his control. At that moment he hated his sister.
"I didn't know you knew her so well, dear," said his mother.
"I don't know her," he said, "I've only seen her three times. But
she ought to be given her chance. It can't be much fun for her
coming here where she knows no one--after her father suddenly dying.
I believe she was all alone with him."
He had expected his father to defend her.


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