The Wings of the Dove Volume I Author:Henry James An excerpt: "I should have thought you might perhaps guess. Let me at any rate tell you. Aunt Maud has made me a proposal. But she has also made me a condition. She wants to keep me." "And what in the world else could she possibly want?" "Oh, I don't know--many things. I'm not so precious a capture," the girl a... more » little dryly explained. "No one has ever wanted to keep me before." Looking always what was proper, her father looked now still more surprised than interested. "You've not had proposals?" He spoke as if that were incredible of Lionel Croy's daughter; as if indeed such an admission scarce consorted, even in filial intimacy, with her high spirit and general form. "Not from rich relations. She's extremely kind to me, but it's time, she says, that we should understand each other." Mr. Croy fully assented. "Of course it is--high time; and I can quite imagine what she means by it." "Are you very sure?" "Oh, perfectly. She means that she'll 'do' for you handsomely if you'll break off all relations with me. You speak of her condition. Her condition's of course that." "Well then," said Kate, "it's what has wound me up. Here I am." He showed with a gesture how thoroughly he had taken it in; after which, within a few seconds, he had, quite congruously, turned the situation about. "Do you really suppose me in a position to justify your throwing yourself upon me?" She waited a little, but when she spoke it was clear. "Yes." "Well then, you're a bigger fool than I should have ventured to suppose you." "Why so? You live. You flourish. You bloom." "Ah, how you've all always hated me!" he murmured with a pensive gaze again at the window.« less