When I reached New York, I bethought myself of my promise to Miss
Laniston. It tortured my soul to think of what had happened; I knew it
would torture it still more to talk of these things. But I am a man who
keeps his promises; besides, I wanted to see Miss Laniston. I did not
like her very much, but the people whom I did like seemed to be falling
away from me, and she was a woman of vigorous spirit, to whom one in my
plight would naturally turn. That she could give me any encouragement
was not likely, but she might offer me an enheartening sympathy; and,
moreover, she was well acquainted with Mother Anastasia, and there were
a good many questions I wanted to ask about that lady.
I found Miss Laniston at home, but I was obliged to wait a good while
before she made her appearance.
"If you were any other man in this world," she said, "I should have felt
obliged to excuse myself from seeing you, for I am engaged on most
important business with a modiste who is designing a gown for me; but I
am perfectly wild to hear about your interview with Mother Anastasia,
and I was afraid, if I sent you away, that you would not come back
again; so tell me about it, I pray you. I know you have seen her, for
you look so uncommonly glum.
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