The Craze of Christina — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Craze of Christina. 157 and mercenary schemer which she had decided that she was, she would most assuredly have looked her lover full in the face and have de- clared in no hesitating tones that she adored him and would marry him whenever he hked; instead of which, she found herself quite incapable of saying anything of the kind. **What a dear he is, and what a brute I am!”’ she thought. ‘‘I would rather give up the whole thing and go straight out of his life than play such a horrid trick upon him. If he could only forget me altogether, as he probably will if I go right away, it will be the very best thing that could possibly happen’to him.’’ And what she said aloud was only: | **I can’t really say that I love you, Mr. Clif- ford’’—he let her hand fall with a gesture of despair that went straight to her heart, and she was weak enough to add—‘‘you see, I have known you such a short time.’’ **You give me hope, then?”’ he cried joyfully, his whole face brightening at once. “‘Oh, my darling, you shall have as long as you like to think about it and to know me better; only please go to Midchester, so that | may see you often.’ | She shook her head. ‘‘No, I can’t do that; I GComichooksnco