Elsie Lindtner, do you realise that in the same year, the same month, you have offered yourself to two men in succession and both have declined the honour? Luckily there is no one else to whom you can abase yourself.
One of these days, depend upon it, Richard will eat his heart out with regret. But then it will be too late, my dear man, too late!
That he should have dared to replace me by a mere chit of nineteen!
The whole town must be laughing at him. And I can do nothing....
But I am done for. Nothing is left to me, but to efface myself as soon as possible. I cannot endure the thought of being pitied by anyone, least of all by Richard.
How badly I have played my cards! I who thought myself so clever!
Good heavens! I understand the women who throw vitriol in the face of a rival. Unhappily I am too refined for such reprisals.
But if I had her here—whoever she may be—I would crush her with a look she could never forget.
⁂ ⁂ ⁂
Jeanne has agreed to go with me.