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James, Henry, 1843-1916

"Roderick Hudson"

Is there any hope for
him?"
"This is a point I can't discuss with you minutely. I like him very
much."
"Would you marry him if he were to ask you?"
"He has asked me."
"And if he asks again?"
"I shall marry no one just now."
"Roderick," said Rowland, "has great hopes."
"Does he know of my rupture with the prince?"
"He is making a great holiday of it."
Christina pulled her poodle towards her and began to smooth his silky
fleece. "I like him very much," she repeated; "much more than I used to.
Since you told me all that about him at Saint Cecilia's, I have felt a
great friendship for him. There 's something very fine about him; he 's
not afraid of anything. He is not afraid of failure; he is not afraid of
ruin or death."
"Poor fellow!" said Rowland, bitterly; "he is fatally picturesque."
"Picturesque, yes; that 's what he is. I am very sorry for him."
"Your mother told me just now that you had said that you did n't care a
straw for him."
"Very likely! I meant as a lover. One does n't want a lover one pities,
and one does n't want--of all things in the world--a picturesque
husband! I should like Mr.


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