Most
men wouldn't dare offer themselves to you. The impudence of this
Craig! You should have ordered him out of your presence."
Margaret, remembering how Craig had seized her, smiled.
"I admit I have been inconsiderate in urging you so vigorously,"
continued her grandmother. "I thought I had observed a tendency to
fritter. I wished you to stop trifling with Grant Arkwright--or,
rather, to stop his trifling with you. Come, now, my dear, let me
put an end to this engagement. And you will marry Grant, and your
future will be bright and assured."
Margaret shook her head. "I have promised," said she, and her
expression would have thrilled Lucia.
Madam Bowker was singularly patient with this evidence of
sentimentalism. "That's fine and noble of you. But you didn't
realize what a grave step you were taking, and you--"
"Yes, but I did. If ever anything was deliberate on a woman's
part, that engagement was." A bright spot burned in each of the
girl's cheeks. "He didn't really propose. I pretended to
misunderstand him."
Her grandmother stared.
"You needn't look at me like that," exclaimed Margaret. "You know
very well that Grandfather Bowker never would have married you if
you hadn't fairly compelled him.
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