"
"But he will have thought of nothing. What must I settle? That is
the question. When he was told to go to his father, he went to his
father. When he failed there the work was done, and the trouble was
off his mind. I know him so well."
"If you think so ill of him why did you consent to get into his
boat?" said Lady Chiltern, seriously.
"I don't think ill of him. Why do you say that I think ill of him? I
think better of him than of anybody else in the world;--but I know
his fault, and, as it happens, it is a fault so very prejudicial to
my happiness. You ask me why I got into his boat. Why does any girl
get into a man's boat? Why did you get into Lord Chiltern's?"
"I promised to marry him when I was seven years old;--so he says."
"But you wouldn't have done it, if you hadn't had a sort of feeling
that you were born to be his wife. I haven't got into this man's boat
yet; but I never can be happy unless I do, simply because--"
"You love him."
"Yes;--just that. I have a feeling that I should like to be in his
boat, and I shouldn't like to be anywhere else.
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