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James, Henry, 1843-1916

"Roderick Hudson"

"
"You make a great mistake," laughed Rowland; "I assure you I am very
amiable."
"Yes, I am probably wrong, and if I knew you, I should find out I was
wrong, and that would irritate me and make me dislike you more. So you
see we are necessary enemies."
"No, I don't dislike you."
"Worse and worse; for you certainly will not like me."
"You are very discouraging."
"I am fond of facing the truth, though some day you will deny that.
Where is that queer friend of yours?"
"You mean Mr. Hudson. He is represented by these beautiful works."
Miss Light looked for some moments at Roderick's statues. "Yes," she
said, "they are not so silly as most of the things we have seen. They
have no chic, and yet they are beautiful."
"You describe them perfectly," said Rowland. "They are beautiful, and
yet they have no chic. That 's it!"
"If he will promise to put none into my bust, I have a mind to let him
make it. A request made in those terms deserves to be granted."
"In what terms?"
"Did n't you hear him? 'Mademoiselle, you almost satisfy my conception
of the beautiful. I must model your bust.


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