“‘But any one who does not read, and read much, becomes idiotic, and makes but a poor figure in society.’
“‘If that’s the case, tell me what I ought to read.’
“‘I cannot answer your question right away; but, if you are willing, we will read together and try to make up for lost time.’”
Chapter XXIV.
“And so it was settled. He undertook to educate me and to form my tastes. He soon made me acquainted with the masterpieces of German and French literature, and discovered to me the beauties of the classics in his own language; and I learnt from him most assiduously that which Dr. Darkins never could have taught me——”
“And so well, that you fell in love with each other!” I interrupted, giving way to a movement of anger.
“Not exactly; but if you interrupt in that way I shall lose the thread of my narrative. It is at your desire I recount to you the story of my past life; and how much wiser would you be if I were to compress it into a sentence like this for instance: ‘Lord William came to our house in the autumn, and left us the following spring’?”
“Without having become your fiancé?” I said in agony.
“Without having become my fiancé,” she answered in a dry, cold tone.