"By letting yourself go." "I think he would if he were free," said Mrs. Gereth.!

"She was visibly relieved." "I don't want to see any letter," said Fleda. "You'll miss your train."

"No, nor love me," said Owen. "Of course, you know, she says she loves me." "Misses them—rather! She was awfully sweet on them." Fleda remembered how sweet Mona had been, and reflected that if that was the sort of plea he had prepared it was indeed as well he shouldn't see his mother. This was not all she wanted to know, but it came over her that it was all she needed. "You see it puts me in the position of not carrying out what I promised," Owen said. "As she says herself"—he hesitated an instant—"it's just as if I had obtained her under false pretenses." Just before, when he spoke with more drollery than he knew, it had left Fleda serious; but now his own clear gravity had the effect of exciting her mirth. She laughed out, and he looked surprised, but went on: "She regards it as a regular sell." "I explained to her fully your position and put before her much more strongly than she liked what seemed to me her absolute duty."