Nor would I tell it to you, only I cannot bear that you should think that I had anything to do with this wretched inquisition into Mr.Somers's prospects.

Knowing as well as you do how perfectly independent I am, you would think it strange, wouldn't you?
But you would think it still more surprising when you found out that I and my uncle already know how liberally and generously you had provided for Mr.Somers in the future." "How I had provided for Mr.Somers in the future ?" repeated Mr.
Rushbrook, looking at the fire, "eh ?" "Yes," said the young girl, indifferently, "how you were to put him in to succeed you in the Water Front Trust, and all that.

He told it to me and my uncle at the outset of our acquaintance, confidentially, of course, and I dare say with an honorable delicacy that was like him, but--I suppose now you will think me foolish--all the while I'd rather he had not." "You'd rather he had not," repeated Mr.Rushbrook, slowly.
"Yes," continued Grace, leaning forward with her rounded elbows on her knees, and her slim, arched feet on the fender.

"Now you are going to laugh at me, Mr.Rushbrook, but all this seemed to me to spoil any spontaneous feeling I might have towards him, and limit my independence in a thing that should be a matter of free will alone.

It seemed too much like a business proposition! There, my kind friend!" she added, looking up and trying to read his face with a half girlish pout, followed, however, by a maturer sigh, "I'm bothering you with a woman's foolishness instead of talking business.