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Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924

"Chance"

Yes. Don't interrupt me, Flora. I was
everlastingly being interrupted at the trial and I can't stand it any
more. I won't be interrupted by my own child. And when I think that it
is on the very day before they let me out that you . . . "
He had wormed this fact out of her by that time because Flora had got
tired of evading the question. He had been very much struck and
distressed. Was that the trust she had in him? Was that a proof of
confidence and love? The very day before! Never given him even half a
chance. It was as at the trial. They never gave him a chance. They
would not give him time. And there was his own daughter acting exactly
as his bitterest enemies had done. Not giving him time!
The monotony of that subdued voice nearly lulled her dismay to sleep. She
listened to the unavoidable things he was saying.
"But what induced that man to marry you? Of course he's a gentleman. One
can see that. And that makes it worse. Gentlemen don't understand
anything about city affairs--finance. Why!--the people who started the
cry after me were a firm of gentlemen.


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