Fiction > Book editions > London, 1893 - Catriona

328 CATRIONA.
cold-like appearance. Between these extremes I stood
helpless, and could have bit my fingers ; so that, when
at last I managed to speak at all, it may be said I
spoke at random.
" Catriona," said I, " I am in a very painful situa-
tion ; or rather, so we are both ; and I would be a
good deal obliged to you if you w^ould promise to let
me speak through first of all, and not to interrupt
till I have done."
She promised me that simply.
" Weil," said I, " this that I have got to say is
very difficult, and I know very well I have no right
to be saying it. After what passed between the t v/o
of us last Friday, I have no manner of right. AVc
have got so ravelled up (and all by my fault) that I
know very Avell the least I could do is just to hold juy
tongue, which was what I intended fully, and there
was nothing further from my thoughts than to have
troubled you again. But, my dear, it has become
merely necessary, and no way by it. You see, this
estate of mine has fallen in, which makes of me
rather a better match ; and the — the business would
not have quite the same ridiculous-like appearance
that it would before. Besides which, it's supposed
that our affairs have got so much ravelled up (as I
was saying) that it Avould be better to let them be the
w^ay they are. In my view, this part of the thing is
vastly exaggerate, and if I were you I would not
wear two thoughts on it. Only it's right I should
mention the same, because there's no doubt it has
some influence on James More. Then I think we
were none so unhappy when we dwelt together in this