I
write most of my own letters, though not all, and my correspondence
is far from being large. His chief duty has been that of reading to
me in the evening. For many years my eyes have not been so strong as
a painter's ought to be, and the oculist whom I consulted told me
that the strain of the painter's work was quite as much as my eyes
ought to bear, and that I could not afford much eyesight for reading
purposes. I am passionately fond of reading. To be without the
pleasure that books can afford me would be to make me miserable, and
I have looked upon my secretary's duty of reading aloud to me as an
important one. If you would take his place you would be conferring
the greatest service upon me."
'"Mr. D'Arcy," I said, "I suspect you."
'"Suspect me, Miss Wynne?"
'"I suspect that generous heart of yours. I suspect you are merely
inventing a post for me to fill, because you pity me."
'"No, Miss Wynne; upon my honour this is not so. I will not deny that
if it were not in your power to do me the service that I ask of you,
I should still feel the greatest disappointment if you passed from
under this roof.
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