There was, at
moments, something almost of menace in his requests and suggestions--an
importunity I did not exactly understand. . . . And then he said
something to me--"
"Go on; what?"
"He'd been hinting at it before; and even when I found him jolliest and
most amusing and companionable I never thought of him as a--a social
possibility--I mean among those who really count--like my own people--"
"Oh! he asked you to introduce him into your own family circle?"
"Yes--I didn't understand it at first--until somehow I began to feel the
pressure of it--the vague but constant importunity. . . . He was a good
fellow--at least I thought so; I hated to hurt him--to assume any
attitude that might wound him. But, good heavens!--he couldn't seem to
understand that nobody in our family would receive him--although he had
a certain footing with the Fanes and Harmons and a few others--like the
Siowitha people--or at least the men of those families. Don't you see,
Philip?"
"Yes, my boy, I see.
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