But what is a man
to do? Would you recommend me to say that black is white?"
"I am sure you will never do that."
"You see, Mary, it is very nice to be called by a big name and to
have a salary, and it is very comfortable to be envied by one's
friends and enemies;--but there are drawbacks. There is this especial
drawback." Then he paused for a moment before he went on.
"What especial drawback, Phineas?"
"A man cannot do what he pleases with himself. How can a man marry,
so circumstanced as I am?"
She hesitated for a moment, and then she answered him,--"A man may be
very happy without marrying, I suppose."
He also paused for many moments before he spoke again, and she then
made a faint attempt to escape from him. But before she succeeded he
had asked her a question which arrested her. "I wonder whether you
would listen to me if I were to tell you a history?" Of course she
listened, and the history he told her was the tale of his love for
Violet Effingham.
"And she has money of her own?" Mary asked.
"Yes;--she is rich. She has a large fortune."
"Then, Mr. Finn, you must seek some one else who is equally blessed."
"Mary, that is untrue,--that is ill-natured. You do not mean that.
Say that you do not mean it. You have not believed that I loved Miss
Effingham because she was rich.
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