Selma, I need you. I am not infatuated.
I am clearer- headed than I ever was in my life. I need you.
You can make a man of me.''
She was regarding him with a friendly and even tender sympathy.
``I understand now,'' she said. ``I thought it was simply the
ordinary outburst of passion. But I see that it was the result
of your struggle with yourself about which road to take in making
a career.''
If she had not been absorbed in developing her theory she might
have seen that Davy was not altogether satisfied with this
analysis of his feelings. But he deemed it wise to hold his
peace.
``You do need some one--some woman,'' she went on. ``And I am
anxious to help you all I can. I couldn't help you by marrying
you. To me marriage means----'' She checked herself abruptly.
``No matter. I can help you, I think, as a friend. But if you
wish to marry, you should take some one in your own class-- some
one who's in sympathy with you. Then you and she could work it
out together--could help each other. You see, I don't need
you--and there's nothing in one- sided marriages. . . . No, you
couldn't give me anything I need, so far as I can see.''
``I believe that's true,'' said Davy miserably.
She reflected, then continued: ``But there's Jane Hastings. Why
not marry her? She is having the same sort of struggle with
herself. You and she could help each other. And you're, both of
you, fine characters.
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