The Craze of Christina — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

232 _ The Craze of Christina. CHAPTER XX, THE explanation when he received it was brief but very explicit. ‘TI find on thinking it over,’’ she said, ‘‘that I am unable to submit to the ordeal of a three years’ engagement. It is contrary to all my ideas of happiness, nor am I at all sure that I could remain true to my promises to you for that length of time. Please do not interrupt me, Mark! I want you to hear me out first’’— she spoke very calmly and deliberately, almost coldly in fact. ‘*You are going to say, I know, that this does not augur any deep affection on my part. But that would be an erroneous idea. I love you now, passionately and deeply, but I am naturally suspicious and possibly change- able, and I could never continue to believe tin the sincerity of a man who was ready to lay aside his claim to me for so longa time. How- ever much I might strive to keep my faith in you alive, I should be constantly filled with doubts of you and with jealousy concerning other women; therefore, I have determined not (Copan icelo) (0\(0) KS (E(0)