Yet at that moment no hint of subsequent events filtered into my mind;
I did not suspect--even dimly--the possibilities of Elizabeth.
CHAPTER VI
Neither Elizabeth or Marion like William. Of the two, Elizabeth is
more tolerant towards him, merely commenting that 'she couldn't abide
his ways.' Marion, however, views him with an antipathy entirely
foreign to one of her gentle nature. I think, in the light of what
happened later, if she had only shown a little more forbearance towards
him it might have simplified matters.
William is our friend. He drops in to see us when he likes, sits with
his feet on our mantelpiece, strews tobacco ash on the carpet, and
always tells me which of my hats are the most unbecoming, so you can
imagine what a close friend he is. Though he does not stick any closer
than a brother, he is equally as frank. He likes Henry and tolerates
me. For the rest of the women in the world he has a strong objection.
Not that he is a misogynist; but he always holds that a woman
interferes with a man's life. I often think that William would be all
the better for a little judicious feminine interference. He has,
however, now got beyond the stage of redemption.
[Illustration: Our Friend William.]
Home means nothing more to William than a comfortable ledge below the
mantelpiece where he can put his feet, a carpet which will not spoil
with tobacco ash, and a few tables and chairs scattered about just to
hold a good supply of old magazines and newspapers handy for lighting
his pipe.
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