"
"Oh, of course it is not wrong; but is it wise?"
Zoe did not answer: the question puzzled her.
"Come," said he, "I'll be frank, and speak out in time. I don't think you
know your brother Harrington. He is very inflammable."
"Inflammable! What! Harrington? Well, yes; for I've seen smoke issue from
his mouth--ha! ha!"
"Ha! ha! I'll pass that off for mine, some day when you are not by. But,
seriously, your brother is the very man to make a fool of himself with a
certain kind of woman. He despises the whole sex--in theory, and he is
very hard upon ordinary women, and does not appreciate their good
qualities. But, when he meets a remarkable woman, he catches fire like
tow. He fell in love with Mademoiselle Klosking."
"Oh, not in love!"
"I beg your pardon. Now, this is between you and me--he was in love with
her, madly in love. He was only saved by our coming away. If those two
had met and made acquaintance, he would have been at her mercy. I don't
say any harm would have come of it; but I do say that would have depended
on the woman, and not on the man."
Zoe looked very serious, and said nothing. But her long silence showed
him his words had told.
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