Then: "You're not trying to
make her give that up just because you think she's worth saving. You
like her a lot, Larry?"
"I love her," Larry admitted.
"I'm sorry about that, Larry." There was real emotion in the old voice
now. "I've told you that you're all I've got left. And now that you've
at last started right, I want everything to go right with you.
Everything! And Maggie will never help things go right with you. Your
love for her can only mean misery and misfortune. You can't change
her."
Larry came out with the questions he had asked himself so frequently
these last days. "But why did her manner change so when she heard
Barney and the others? Why did she help me escape?"
"That was because, deep down, she really loves you. That's the worst
part of it: you both love each other." The Duchess slowly nodded her
head. "You both love each other. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't care
what you tried to do. But I tell you again you can't change her. She's
too sure of herself. She'll always try to make you go _her way_--and
if you don't, you'll never get a smile from her. And because you love
each other, I'm afraid you'll give in and go her way. That's what I'm
afraid of. Won't you just cut her out of your life, Larry?"
It had been a prodigiously long speech for the Duchess.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219