Still smiling, in that friendly, assured way, he went
on: ``You've been very cold and reserved with me, my
dear. Very unappreciative.''
Mildred, red and trembling, hung her head in confusion.
``I've been at the business ten years,'' he went on,
``and you're the first woman I've been more than casually
interested in. The pretty ones were bores. The
homely ones--I can't interest myself in a homely
woman, no matter how much talent she has. A woman
must first of all satisfy the eye. And you--'' He
seated himself and drew her toward him. She, cold all
over and confused in mind and almost stupefied, resisted
with all her strength; but her strength seemed to be
oozing away. She said:
``You must not do this. You must not do this. I'm
horribly disappointed in you.''
He drew her to his lap and held her there without
any apparent tax upon his strength. He kissed her,
laughingly pushing away the arms with which she tried
to shield her face. Suddenly she found strength to
wrench herself free and stood at a distance from him.
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