How silly to say, in the sulky tone, "Are devoted friends
so easy to find?" Of course they were--for a girl like that--devoted
friends, passionate lovers, and sentimental idiots undoubtedly blocked
her path.
It might have been some comfort to him to know that in the remote spot
of his own choosing, a stone bench under a purple beech, Eddie was
simply going from bad to worse.
"Dear Crystal," he began, with that irritating reasonableness of
manner which implies that the speaker is going to be reasonable for
two, "I've been thinking over the situation. I know that you don't
love me, but then I don't believe you will ever be deeply in love with
any one. I don't think you are that kind of woman."
"Oh, Eddie, how dreadful!"
"I don't see that at all. Just as well, perhaps. You don't want to get
yourself into such a position as poor Eugenia."
"I do, I would. I'd give anything to be as much in love as Eugenia."
"What? With a fellow like that! A complete outsider."
"Outside of what? The human race?"
"Well, no," said Eddie, as if he were yielding a good deal, "but
outside of your traditions and your set."
"My set! Good for him to be outside of it, I say. What have they ever
done to make anyone want to be inside of it? Why, David is an educated
gentleman. To hear him quote Horace--"
"Horace who?"
"Really, Eddie."
"Oh, I see. You mean the poet. That's nothing to laugh at, Crystal.
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