"
"No, no, Frances," I returned, trying to conceal my delight. "You will be
happy with Dick Talbot if you will thrust the other man out of your
heart."
"Thrust the other man out of my heart!" she exclaimed. "It was never done
by a woman. She may be cured, I suppose, by time and conditions, but she
can't cure herself. A woman's heart is like a telescope. It magnifies the
man of her choice, but reverses and becomes a diminishing glass for all
others. But I shall accept Tyrconnel just as soon as I grow used to the
thought of living with him. Soon you will have accomplished your purpose
in bringing me to court."
"My purpose?" I asked in surprise. "Was it not also your purpose?"
"I suppose it was, but I hate myself for having conceived it. I'm
learning to hate every one, the king more than any man, unless I except
that little wretch, Jermyn, the court lady-killer. What a despicable
thing your lady-killer is! Doubtless God created him to show by
comparison the great worth of worms, snakes, and other reptiles."
"What has Little Jermyn been doing?" I asked, amused at her
vindictiveness.
"He has crushed so many hearts that he deems himself irresistible, and
of late has been annoying me. If by any chance he finds me alone, he
importunes me to make a tryst with him and save him from death because of
a broken heart. I usually answer by walking away from him and try to show
him that he is beneath even my contempt, but his vanity is so great that
he imagines my manner to be the outgrowth of pique or a desire to lead
him on.
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