If I told everything to my friends I should leave myself no choice.' 'Oh, why not?
You would be absolutely free.

I could no more than try to recommend myself to you.

If I am so unhappy as to fail, how would you be anything but quite free ?' 'But surely you must understand me.

In this position, I must either not speak of you at all, or make it known that I am engaged to you.

I can't have it taken for granted that I am engaged to you when I don't wish to be.' Widdowson's head drooped; he set his lips in a hard gloomy expression.
'I have behaved very imprudently,' continued the girl.