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James, Henry, 1843-1916

"Roderick Hudson"

If you said more, you would say that, eh?"
The Cavaliere's shrewdness exchanged a glance with Rowland's. "By no
means. Miss Light is a singular girl; she has many romantic ideas.
She would be quite capable of interesting herself seriously in an
interesting young man, like your friend, and doing her utmost to
discourage a splendid suitor, like the prince. She would act sincerely
and she would go very far. But it would be unfortunate for the young
man," he added, after a pause, "for at the last she would retreat!"
"A singular girl, indeed!"
"She would accept the more brilliant parti. I can answer for it."
"And what would be her motive?"
"She would be forced. There would be circumstances.... I can't tell you
more."
"But this implies that the rejected suitor would also come back. He
might grow tired of waiting."
"Oh, this one is good! Look at him now." Rowland looked, and saw that
the prince had left his place by Mrs. Light and was marching restlessly
to and fro between the villa and the parapet of the terrace. Every now
and then he looked at his watch. "In this country, you know," said the
Cavaliere, "a young lady never goes walking alone with a handsome young
man.


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