But I am a worthless creature, and not good for anything. I
cannot work, and I hate being idle. Take me anywhere, _make_ me do
something, beat me if you like, only force me to be different from what
I am."
"Very well," I said. "I will give you a good beating presently, of
course, but just let me consider what will hurt you most, silly child!"
"That is it," she said. "I want to be hurt and bruised, and shaken as my
nurse used to shake me, when I was a naughty child. Oh dear, oh dear,
how wretched I am!" and poor Cynthia laid her head on my shoulder and
burst into tears.
"Come, come," I said, "you must not do that--I want my wits about me;
but if you cry, you will simply make a fool of me--and this is no time
for love-making."
"Then you do really _care_", said Cynthia in a quieter tone. "That is
all I want to know! I want to be with you, and see you every hour and
every minute. I can't help saying it, though it is really very
undignified for me to be making love to you. I did many silly things on
earth, but never anything quite so feeble as that!"
I felt myself fairly bewildered by the situation.
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