This matter must be cleared up -- I am not going to have our beautiful friendship spoiled by the malice of some coward . What did that letter say ? '' `` It said that everybody in your congregation was talking about your frequent visits here -- that it had made a great scandal -- that it was doing you a great deal of injury and would probably end in your having to leave Rexton . '' `` That would be a catastrophe indeed , '' said Alan drily . `` Well , what else ? '' `` Nothing more -- at least , nothing about you . The rest was about myself -- I did not mind it -- much . But I was so sorry to think that I had done you harm . It is not too late to undo it . You must not come here any more . Then they will forget . '' `` Perhaps -- but I should not forget . It 's a little too late for me . Lynde , you must not let this venomous letter come between us . I love you , dear -- I 've loved you ever since I met you and I want you for my wife . '' Alan had not intended to say that just then , but the words came to his lips in spite of himself . She looked so sad and appealing and weary that he wanted to have the right to comfort and protect her . She turned her eyes full upon him with no hint of maidenly shyness or shrinking in them . Instead , they were full of a blank , incredulous horror that swallowed up every other feeling . There was no mistaking their expression and it struck an icy chill to Alan 's heart .
He had certainly not expected a too ready response on her part -- he knew XXXXX even if she cared for him he might find it a matter of time to win her avowal of it -- but he certainly had not expected to see such evident abject dismay as her blanched face betrayed .
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