'I am not prepared to be grateful to her at a moment's notice for any
crumbs of affection she may throw you.'
'Oh but you must be grateful, sir; and you must love her and pity her,'
retorted Mary. 'Think how sadly she has suffered. We cannot be too kind
to her, or too fond of her, poor dear.'
'Mary is right,' said Hammond, half in jest and half in earnest. 'What
wonderful instincts these young women have.'
'Come and see her ladyship; and then you must have dinner, just as you
had that first evening,' said Mary. 'We'll act that first evening over
again, Jack; only you can't fall in love with Lesbia, as she isn't
here.'
'I don't think I surrendered that first evening, Mary. Though I thought
your sister the loveliest girl I had ever seen.'
'And what did you think of me, sir? Tell me that,' said Mary.
'Shall I tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth?'
'Of course.'
'Then I freely confess that I did not think about you at all. You were
there--a pretty, innocent, bright young maiden, with big brown eyes and
auburn hair; but I thought no more about you than I did about the
Gainsborough on the wall, which you very much resemble.
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