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 be in love with anyone but herself; and that isn't her fault, either; she merely doesn't know how. All she can actually see is herself. She wants to have everybody in love with her that she can possibly get into that condition; but she really doesn't understand that her lovers are human beings, her fellow-beings—not even when she singles one out and believes that she adores him. It's only another way of adoring herself. I've really given you more feeling, just as your friend, than Kitty Peale is capable of giving you, even if she should let you marry her. I'm giving you so much friendship at this very moment, Walter, that I dare take the risk of asking you if you couldn't see her as she is, for your own sake, and cease to be one of her squadron. Her father told me she has a 'squadron' of boys about her. They'll content her and they won't get much hurt, but you might—especially if she should decide she wanted you to marry her."

Walter stared, and his colour heightened visibly. "See here," he said. "Do you mean you're advising me to stop seeing her?"

"Yes. I take that risk."

"I think you might very well call it a risk!" he said bitterly.