She looked upon him as more--as a friend.

Do you know what a dangerous thing it is for a woman who has lost one protector to begin to rely upon another?
Well, my mother is not yet old.

Dr.West appreciated her--Dr.West did not depreciate himself--two things that go far with a woman, Captain Carroll, and my mother is a woman." She paused, and then, with a light toss of her fan, said: "Well, to make an end, but for this excellent horse and this too ambitious rider, one knows not how far the old story of my mother's first choice would have been repeated, and the curse of Koorotora again fallen on the land." "And you tell me this--you, Maruja--you who warned me against my hopeless passion for you ?" "Could I foresee this ?" she said, passionately; "and are you mad enough not to see that this very act would have made YOUR suit intolerable to my relations ?" "Then you did think of my suit, Maruja," he said, grasping her hand.
"Or any one's suit," she continued, hurriedly, turning away with a slight increase of color in her cheeks.

After a moment's pause, she added, in a gentler and half-reproachful voice, "Do you think I have confided my mother's story to you for this purpose only?
Is this the help you proffer ?" "Forgive me, Maruja," said the young officer, earnestly.

"I am selfish, I know--for I love you.