Sealed Lips — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

246 SEALED LIPS. “This is what Prince Kemeneff has said to me, without omitting one phrase. As tomy reply, it is sufficient to know that I have taken one year to reflect in, and also—I do not conceal it from you that he has suspected—to have your advice. Ido not know how to do without it in this case, in spite of the slight interest that you have shown as to my future; I remember the very active part that you once took in my decision in a case of the same kind. “What shall I say? Youcan judge with perfect competence. You know the prince; you know me also. I have not changed in any way; I am exactly the same. All that I once said to you I say now, although I admit it the great hope of my heart is far from being justified by the pretension of disin.. terestedness that you have shown me. “Now then, if you tellme to marry Kemeneff ] will follow your counsel, for it will be given with- out restraint this time. I do not suppose that the prince has any all-powerful rights over your friend- ship. You owe him nothing that I know, and I can guarantee that he will not kill himself if I refuse to marry him. Thus you have no reason to sacri- fice me over again unless the role of preparing sac- rifices is particularly to your taste. “Answer me when you have maturely reflected; we have time. You hold in your hands for the sec- ond time a poor woman’s happiness and her future. It is a very little thing, but little as it may be, in whatever mold your heart may have been cast, this GEOmichboo cS (€(0)