[Confidence by Henry James]@TWC D-Link bookConfidence CHAPTER VII 2/8
"One is tempted to say them; but you don't take them." The young girl colored as she listened to this observation. "I don't think you know," she murmured, looking away.
Then, "Set it down to modesty," she added. "That, of course, is what I have done.
To what else could one possibly attribute an indifference to compliments ?" "There is something else.
One might be proud." "There you are again!" Bernard exclaimed.
"You won't even let me praise your modesty." "I would rather you should rebuke my pride." "That is so humble a speech that it leaves no room for rebuke." For a moment Miss Vivian said nothing. "Men are singularly base," she declared presently, with a little smile. "They don't care in the least to say things that might help a person. They only care to say things that may seem effective and agreeable." "I see: you think that to say agreeable things is a great misdemeanor." "It comes from their vanity," Miss Vivian went on, as if she had not heard him.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|