"
"I have given it up. I don't care now."
"You have grown very brave," said Mrs. Penniman, with a short laugh.
"I didn't advise you to sacrifice your property."
"Yes, I am braver than I was. You asked me if I had changed; I have
changed in that way. Oh," the girl went on, "I have changed very
much. And it isn't my property. If HE doesn't care for it, why
should I?"
Mrs. Penniman hesitated. "Perhaps he does care for it."
"He cares for it for my sake, because he doesn't want to injure me.
But he will know--he knows already--how little he need be afraid
about that. Besides," said Catherine, "I have got plenty of money of
my own. We shall be very well off; and now hasn't he got his
business? I am delighted about that business." She went on talking,
showing a good deal of excitement as she proceeded. Her aunt had
never seen her with just this manner, and Mrs. Penniman, observing
her, set it down to foreign travel, which had made her more positive,
more mature. She thought also that Catherine had improved in
appearance; she looked rather handsome. Mrs. Penniman wondered
whether Morris Townsend would be struck with that. While she was
engaged in this speculation, Catherine broke out, with a certain
sharpness, "Why are you so contradictory, Aunt Penniman? You seem to
think one thing at one time, and another at another. A year ago,
before I went away, you wished me not to mind about displeasing
father; and now you seem to recommend me to take another line.
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