he said abruptly , when they had left the cottage . `` She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen -- present company always excepted , '' he concluded , with a depreciatory laugh . The delicate bloom on Marian 's face deepened slightly . `` You had much better to have omitted that last sentence , '' she said quietly , `` it was so palpably an afterthought . Yes , she is wonderfully lovely -- a strange beauty , I fancied . There seemed something odd and uncanny about it to me . She must be Mrs. Barrett 's niece . I remember that when I was down here about a month ago Mrs. Barrett told me she expected a niece of hers to live with her -- for a time at least . Her parents were both dead , the father having died recently . Mrs. Barrett seemed troubled about her . She said that the girl had been well brought up and used to better things than the Cove could give her , and she feared that she would be very discontented and unhappy . I had forgotten all about it until I saw the girl today . She certainly seems to be a very superior person ; she will find the Cove very lonely , I am sure . It is not probable she will stay there long . I must see what I can do for her , but her manner seemed rather repellent , do n't you think ? '' `` Hardly , '' responded Esterbrook curtly . `` She seemed surprisingly dignified and self-possessed , I fancied , for a girl in her position . A princess could not have looked and bowed more royally . There was not a shadow of embarrassment in her manner , in spite of the incongruity of her surroundings . You had much better leave her alone , Marian .
In all probability she would resent any condescension XXXXX your part .
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