You know how easily and
suddenly these things happen, beginning in playful
teasing and ending in something a little warmer than
friendship. You squeeze the slender arm which is passed
through yours, you venture to take the little gloved
hand, you say good night at absurd length in the shadow
of the door. It is innocent and very interesting, love
trying his wings in a first little flutter. He will
keep his sustained flight later on, the better for the
practice. There was never any question of engagements
between us, nor any suggestion of harm. She knew that I
was a poor devil with neither means nor prospects, and I
knew that her mother's will was her law, and that her
course was already marked out for her. However, we
exchanged our little confidences, and met occasionally by
appointment, and tried to make our lives brighter without
darkening those of any one else. I can see you shake
your head here and growl, like the comfortable married
man that you are, that such relations are very dangerous.
So they are, my boy: but neither of us cared, she out of
innocence and I out of recklessness, for from the
beginning all the fault in the matter was mine.
Well, matters were in this state when one day last
week a note came up to the Dad saying that Mrs. Andrews'
servant was ill, and would he come at once. The old man
had a touch of gout, so I donned my professional coat
and sallied forth, thinking that perhaps I might combine
pleasure with business, and have a few words with Laura.
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