'I was very fond of Mr. Burnett,' she said, 'but I could not marry him. I
could not marry any man I did not love.'
'And because you refused to marry him, he did not mention you in his will.
I never heard of such selfishness before!'
'Men are always selfish,' she said sententiously. 'But it really does not
matter; things are just the same; he hasn't succeeded in altering
anything--at least, not for the worse. We shall get on very well together.'
The conversation paused. Then Emily went on: 'You won't tell any one I told
you? I only told you because I did not want you to think me selfish. I was
afraid that after the foolish way I behaved last night you might think I
hated you. Indeed, I do not. Perhaps everything has happened for the best.
I was very fond of the old man. I gave him my whole heart; no father ever
had a daughter more attached; but I could not marry him. And it was the
remembrance of my love for him that made me burst out crying. I do not
think I realised until I saw you how cruelly I had been treated. But you
won't tell any one? You won't tell Mrs. Bentley? She knows, of course; but
do not tell her that I told you. I do not care that my feelings should be
made a subject of discussion.
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