“There is no answer to Miss Berrith’s note,” I said as formally as I could, “but I have changed my mind about discharging you, Darius. You may come to-morrow, as usual.”
Then I shut the door abruptly upon him and his smile. If he had thanked me! …
Into such a coil of discomfort was I come by reason of my ill-advised condescension to an immature girl. I am broad-minded enough to admit that the fault was not wholly hers. Had I been true to my avowed principles from the very first, “Sans Souci” had never been invaded by those petty annoyances against which it was expressly designed to secure me. The whole difficulty lay in the fact that a man is never entirely selfish, however he may strive to steel himself against generous impulses. I had gone back upon my tenets because I could not help perceiving that Miss Berrith would derive satisfaction from my company, and because I could not
