THE STEADFAST HEART
that man—his father—would be grandfather to—to my children!”
From that thought Myrtle could not move Lydia—and, indeed, when it was presented in that light she was compelled to admit that it was not without some foundation upon which a girl like Lydia might base her position…. It made the thing dreadfully concrete. Titus Burke as grandfather of her children was a point which had never presented itself to Myrtle…. It was not a pleasant point to contemplate….
Lydia was calmer now; she had passed through her storm, had surmounted her hour of weakness; the outburst was over…. Now, if she suffered, it would be in silence, bravely; nobody should ever again see the deepness of her wound…. She felt she would have strength to go through with it now—strength to marry Malcolm Crane….
…It was a strange engagement. Poor Malcolm was unable to understand his fiancée, to comprehend her manner, her moods, her capricious conduct toward himself. She had promised to marry him, to be his wife. She was willing ultimately to unite her life with his, yet she exhibited toward him an aversion which both hurt and frightened him…. It was as if he were repulsive to her…. Once he tried to kiss her—once after the night of their engagement.
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