And she wants me to go out to parties and play
about all the time--and then she doesn't want me to be any of the things
that I was before I met her. All my earlier life frightens her--I suppose,"
he suddenly ended, "I want her to be different and she wants me to be
different and we can't make a compromise."
Then Miss Monogue said: "Have any outside people interfered at all?"
Peter coloured. "Well, of course, Mrs. Rossiter stands up for Clare. She
came and talked to me this morning and I think the things that she said
were quite true. I suppose I am morose and morbid sometimes--more than I
realise--and then," he added slowly, "there's Cards--"
"Cards?"
"Cardillac--a man I was at school with. I'm very fond of him. He's the best
friend I've got, and he's been all over the place and done everything and,
of course, knows ever so much more about the world than I do. The fact
is he thinks really that my novels are dreadful nonsense, only he's much
too kind to say so--and, of course, Clare looks up to him a lot. Although
he's only my own age he seems so much older than both Clare and myself. I
don't believe she'd have lost interest in my work so quickly if he hadn't
influenced her--and he's influenced me too--" Peter added sighing.
"Well--and is there anything else?"
"Yes. There's Stephen. I can't begin to tell you how I love that kid.
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