"I cannot possibly play the part of a lover," said Mr. Mortimer, and his
face actually changed its hue slightly when he spoke. "How shall I
manage to give it to her!"
He looked at the splendid gem, glittering and sparkling. "And I hate
insincerity," he continued. Then, having taken out the ring, he
inspected it as if he wished it could help him, turning it round on the
tip of his middle finger. "Trust her? I should think so! Like her? Of
course I do. I'll settle on her anything Giles pleases, but I must act
like a gentleman, and not pretend to any romantic feelings."
A pause.
"It's rather an odd thing," he further reflected, "that so many women as
have all but asked me--so many as have actually let other women ask me
for them--so many as I know I might now have almost at a week's notice,
I should have taken it into my head that I must have this one, who
doesn't care for me a straw. She'll laugh at me, very likely--she'll
take me, though!"
Another pause.
"No, I won't have any one else, I'm determined. I'll agree to anything
she demands.
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