"I think with shame
sometimes how I . . . No not yet. I shall not tell you. At least not
now."
The cab turned into the gateway of the dock. Flora handed the tall hat
to her father. "Here, papa. And please be good. I suppose you love me.
If you don't, then I wonder who--"
He put the hat on, and stiffened hard in his corner, kept a sidelong
glance on his girl. "Try to be nice for my sake. Think of the years I
have been waiting for you. I do indeed want support--and peace. A
little peace."
She clasped his arm suddenly with both hands pressing with all her might
as if to crush the resistance she felt in him. "I could not have peace
if I did not have you with me. I won't let you go. Not after all I went
through. I won't." The nervous force of her grip frightened him a
little. She laughed suddenly. "It's absurd. It's as if I were asking
you for a sacrifice. What am I afraid of? Where could you go? I mean
now, to-day, to-night? You can't tell me. Have you thought of it? Well
I have been thinking of it for the last year. Longer. I nearly went mad
trying to find out.
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