'"
"I shall have to put it 'would not' to make you understand. When I say I
wish you would not see me until Midsummer I am saying the very kindest
thing I can. Just now you are under the impression--hallucination--that
you want to see much of me. To prove that you are mistaken I'm going to
ask this of you--not to have anything whatever to do with me until at
least Midsummer. If you carry out my wish you will find out for yourself
what I mean--and will thank me for my wisdom."
"It's a wish, is it? It sounds to me more like a decree."
"It's not a decree. I'll not refuse to see you if you come. But if you
will do as I ask I shall appreciate it more than I can tell you."
"It is certainly one of the cleverest schemes of getting rid of a fellow
I ever heard. Hang it all! do you expect me not to understand that you
are simply letting me down easy? It's not in reason to suppose that
you're forbidding all other men the house. I beg your pardon; I know
that's none of my business; but it's not in human nature to keep from
saying it, because of course that's bound to be the thing that cuts. If
you were going into a convent, and all other fellows were cooling their
heels outside with me, I could stand it.
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