He can find his way about wonderfully, even in a house with which he is
merely making acquaintance: besides, Sirius was with him. But he felt an
immense tenderness for Dierdre after that desperate confession. He
didn't wish the girl to fancy that he could get on without her just
then, or that he thought she had any reason for running away from him.
He asked if she would take him to his room, so that he might rest there,
alone, remembering an exquisite moment of his life.
"It's wonderful to feel that for a beautiful girl like you--blind as I
am, I am a _man_!" he said. "Thank you with all my heart--for
everything."
"Who told you I was beautiful?" Dierdre flung the question at him.
"My sister Mary told me," Brian answered. "Besides--I felt it. A man
does feel such things--perhaps all the more if he is blind."
"Your sister Mary?" the girl echoed. "She doesn't think I'm beautiful.
Or if she does, it's against her will."
"It won't be, after this."
"Why not? You won't tell her----"
"I'll tell her to love you, and--to help me not to!"
It was just then they came to Brian's door, and Dierdre fled, Sirius
staring after her in dignified surprise.
But Dierdre herself came to me at once, and told me everything, with a
kind of proud defiance.
"I _do_ love your brother," she boasted. "I _would_ marry him if he'd
have me. I don't care what you think of me, or what you say!"
"Why, I love you for loving him," I threw back at her.
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