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Walpole, Hugh, Sir, 1884-1941

"The Captives"

Warlock, you wouldn't do me the great, the extreme,
honour of dining with myself and my niece at my humble little inn
to-night? A little sudden--I hope you'll forgive the discourtesy--
but knowing your father--"
Martin looked straight into Maggie's eyes.
"Oh, please do!" she said, her heart beating, as it seemed, against
her eyes so that she dropped them.
"Well--" he hesitated. "It's very good of you, Mr. Cardinal--very
kind. As a matter of fact I was going to dine alone to-night--just a
chop, you know, somewhere--if it's really not inconvenient I'll be
delighted--"
They walked on together.
As they passed into Garrick Street, she knew that she had never in
all her life been so glad to be with any one, that she had never so
completely trusted any one, that she would like to be with him
often, to look after him, perhaps, and to be looked after by him.
Her feeling for him was almost sexless, because she had never
thought, as most girls do, of love and the intrigue and coquetry of
love. She was so simple as to be shameless, and at once, if he had
asked her then in the street to marry him she would have said yes
without hesitation or fear, or any analysis.


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