He simply WAS the man worth while-- worth
any woman's while. How could Selma be associated so intimately
with him without trying to get him in love with her? Perhaps she
had tried and had given up? No--Selma was as strange in her way
as he was in his way. What a strange--original--INDIVIDUAL pair
they were!
``But,'' concluded Jane, ``he belongs with US. I must take him
away from all that. It will be interesting to do it--so
interesting that I'll be sorry when it's done, and I'll be
looking about for something else to do.''
She was not without hope that the books would come that same
evening. But they did not. The next day passed, and the next,
and still no books. Apparently he had meant nothing by his
remark, ``I've some books you'd be interested to read.'' Was his
silence indifference, or was it shyness? Probably she could only
faintly appreciate the effect her position, her surroundings
produced in this man whose physical surroundings had always been
as poor as her mental surroundings-- those created by that
marvelous mind of his--had been splendid.
She tried to draw out her father on the subject of the young man,
with a view to getting a hint as to whether he purposed doing
anything further. But old Hastings would not talk about it; he
was still debating, was looking at the matter from a standpoint
where his daughter's purely theoretical acumen could not help him
to a decision. Jane rather feared that where her father was
evidently so doubtful he would follow his invariable rule in
doubtful cases.
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