““I get the uneasy suspicion that you're holding something back, Mr. Reading," she said. "Or were you simply going to cast more aspersions on my threadbare wardrobe?" "I'm afraid you're so pretty that I hadn't even noticed your wardrobe, Miss Harriman. Your sister doesn't have the advantage of your beauty." "If that's supposed to make me feel better it's failed," she said, finally getting angry. "My sister is very striking, and only shallow gentlemen would fail to realize that." "I'm very shallow, Miss Harriman. You enchant me. Your sister terrifies me." "Good," she said. Then realized how it sounded. "I mean, good that my sister terrifies you, and I would certainly wish that I could do the same." He looked at her. "In fact, you do terrify me, Miss Harriman, for quite different reasons." "I can't imagine why." His twisted smile was far from reassuring. "I think you would prefer I not mention it to you," he murmured. "I don't understand." "You don't need to.””
