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And whenOrin was born he seemed my child, only mine, and I loved him
forthat!
Yousail to Boston tomorrow, to wait for cargo? He was in a
rundowncondition, they say at the hospital. I went to see our old familydoctor
and told him about Ezras letter.
The only talk has been that he came tocourt
Vinnie!
Instantly his bodyshifts to a fighting tenseness.
Behind her mother, in
the portico, she stops andturns. I could let him shoot first and then kill him
inself-defense. He did one of thebravest things Ive seen in the war. You dont
want to be leftan old maid, do you?
How often Ive heard that word in this
house! She isdressed, as before, severely in black. But probablythats because
youre so tired.
But my life as just meending, that didnt appear worth a thought
one way or another.
Iwant to know right now whether youre going to do what I
told youor not! We have twenty good years stillbefore us!
Behind her mother, in
the portico, she stops andturns. He did one of thebravest things Ive seen in
the war. Dont you realize he would never divorce me,out of spite? As for
thepeople here, theyd never dream of such a thing in the Mannonhouse!
Ive seen
dead menscattered about, no more important than rubbish to be got rid of.
His
mother was stern with him, while Marie,she made a fuss over him and petted him.
Mannon looks at his wife who staresbefore her. Isnt beauty an abominationand
love a vile thing? Dont you realize he would never divorce me,out of spite?
But
Ive let it beknown that he has heart trouble.
Then I must go back and disband
my brigade. Lavinias manner becomesthreatening again. I thought you ought to
warn Mother she wasfoolish to allow him to come here.
Laviniadoes not turn or
give any sign of knowing her mother is behind her.
If you love me asmuch as you
claim, I should think that would rid you of anyscruples! And then Ill take you
away openly and laughat him! He stares at it with a strange stupiddread.
Hell
still be in his prime when youre an oldwoman with all your looks gone!
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