In this frame of mind and body, she was in no humour to receive
Henry's ill-timed addresses with favour, or even with patience:
she plainly and positively refused to listen to him. 'Why do you remind
me of what I have suffered?' she asked petulantly. 'Don't you see
that it has left its mark on me for life?'
'I thought I knew something of women by this time,' Henry said,
appealing privately to Lady Montbarry for consolation. 'But Agnes
completely puzzles me. It is a year since Montbarry's death; and she
remains as devoted to his memory as if he had died faithful to her--
she still feels the loss of him, as none of us feel it!'
'She is the truest woman that ever breathed the breath of life,'
Lady Montbarry answered. 'Remember that, and you will understand her.
Can such a woman as Agnes give her love or refuse it,
according to circumstances? Because the man was unworthy of her,
was he less the man of her choice? The truest and best friend to him
(little as he deserved it) in his lifetime, she naturally
remains the truest and best friend to his memory now.
If you really love her, wait; and trust to your two best friends--
to time and to me.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177