Whatever happened, she would not be a
coward. The thing had to be done. Seeing that she had accepted him on the
previous day, had not run away in the night or taken poison, and had come
down to undergo the interview, she would undergo it at least with courage.
What did it matter, even though he should embrace her? It was her lot to
undergo misery, and as she had not chosen to take poison, the misery must
be endured. She rose as he entered and gave him her hand. She had thought
what she would do, and was collected and dignified. He had not, and was
very awkward.
"So you haven't gone to church, Sir Griffin, as you ought," she said, with
another smile.
"Come, I've gone as much as you."
"But I had a headache. You stayed away to smoke cigars."
"I stayed to see you, my girl." A lover may call his ladylove his girl,
and do so very prettily. He may so use the word that she will like it, and
be grateful in her heart for the sweetness of the sound. But Sir Griffin
did not do it nicely. "I've got ever so much to say to you."
"I won't flatter you by saying that I stayed to hear it."
"But you did; didn't you now?" She shook her head; but there was something
almost of playfulness in her manner of doing it.
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