The other letter was from Windebank,
in which he briefly asked Mavis if she would honour him by becoming
his wife. Mavis was much distressed. However brutally her heart had
been bruised by the events of the last few months, she sometimes
believed (this when the sun was shining) that some day it would be
possible for her to conjure up some semblance of affection for
Windebank, especially if she saw much of him. His mere presence
radiated an atmosphere of protection. It offered a welcome
harbourage after the many bufferings she had suffered upon storm-
tossed seas. If she could have gone to him as she had to Perigal,
she would not have hesitated a moment. Now, so far as she was
concerned, there was all the difference in the world. Although she
knew that her soul was not defiled by her experience with Perigal,
she had dim perceptions of the way in which men, particularly manly
males, looked upon such happenings. It was not in the nature of
things, after all that had occurred, for Windebank to want her m a
way in which she would wish to be desired by the man of her choice.
Here was, apparently, no overmastering passion, but pity excited by
her misfortunes.
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