"She's in Paris with her mother--on their way to Aix-les-Bains." Then with impatience she continued: "Do you know that's a great deal to say--what you said just now?
I mean about your being the best friend I have." "Of course I do, and that's exactly why I said it.

You see I'm not in the least delicate or graceful or shy about it--I just come out with it and defy you to contradict me.

Who, if I'm not the best, is a better one ?" "Well," Nanda replied, "I feel since I've known Mr.Longdon that I've almost the sort of friend who makes every one else not count." "Then at the end of three months he has arrived at a value for you that I haven't reached in all these years ?" "Yes," she returned--"the value of my not being afraid of him." Vanderbank, on the bench, shifted his position, turning more to her and throwing an arm over the back.

"And you're afraid of ME ?" "Horribly--hideously." "Then our long, our happy relations-- ?" "They're just what makes my terror," she broke in, "particularly abject.
Happy relations don't matter.

I always think of you with fear." His elbow rested on the back and his hand supported his head.