Милий друг
A Step Upward
Iceaseallintercoursewithpeoplewholovemeorpretendto;firstly,becausetheyboreme,andsecondly,becauseIlookuponthemwithdread,asIwoulduponamaddog.Iknowthatyourloveisonlyakindofappetite;whilewithmeitwouldbeacommunionofsouls.Now,lookmeintheface—"shenolongersmiled."Iwillneverbeyoursweetheart;itisthereforeuselessforyoutopersistinyourefforts.AndnowthatIhaveexplained,shallwebefriends?"
Heknewthatthatsentencewasirrevocable,anddelightedtobeabletoformsuchanallianceassheproposed,heextendedbothhands,saying:
"Iamyours,Madame,todowithasyouwill"
Hekissedherhandsandraisinghisheadsaid:"IfIhadfoundawomanlikeyou,howgladlywouldIhavemarriedher."
Shewastouchedbythosewords,andinasoftvoice,placingherhanduponhisarm,shesaid:"Iamgoingtobeginmyofficesatonce.Youarenotdiplomatic—"shehesitated."MayIspeakfreely?"
"Yes."
"CalluponMme.Walterwhohastakenafancytoyou.Butbeguardedastoyourcompliments,forsheisvirtuous.Youwillmakeabetterimpressiontherebybeingcarefulinyourremarks.Iknowthatyourpositionattheofficeisunsatisfactory,butdonotworry;alltheiremployeesaretreatedalike."
Hesaid:"Thanks;youareanangel—aguardianangel."
Ashetookhisleave,heaskedagain:"Arewefriends—isitsettled?"
"Itis.
