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p>ALINE. Do you desire the lady to have any--special qualifications?
CROCKSTEAD. No--the home-grown article will do. One thing, though--I should like her to be--merciful.
ALINE. I don't understand.
CROCKSTEAD. I have a vague desire to do something with my money: my wife might help me. I should like her to have pity.
ALINE. Pity?
CROCKSTEAD. In the midst of her wealth I should wish her to be sorry for those who are poor.
ALINE. Yes. And, as regards the rest--
CROCKSTEAD. The rest I leave to you, with absolute confidence. You will help me?
ALINE. I will try. My choice is to be final?
CROCKSTEAD. Absolutely.
ALINE. I have an intimate friend--I wonder whether she would do?
CROCKSTEAD. Tell me about her.
ALINE. She and I made our debut the same season. Like myself she has hitherto been her mother's despair.
CROCKSTEAD. Because she has not yet--
ALINE. Married--yes. Oh, if men knew how hard the lot is of the portionless girl, who has to sit, and smile, and wait, with a very desolate heart--they would think less unkindly of her, perhaps--[_She smiles._] But I am digressing, too.
CROCKSTEAD. Tell me more of your friend.
ALINE. She is outwardly hard, and a trifle bitter, but I fancy sunshine would thaw her. There has not been much happiness in her life.
CROCKSTEAD. Would she marry a man she did not love?
ALINE. If she did you would not respect her?
CROCKSTEAD. I don't say that. She will be your choice; and therefore deserving of confidence. Is she handsome?
ALINE. Well--no.
CROCKSTEAD. [_With a quick glance at her._] That's a pity. But we can't have everything.
ALINE. No. There is one episode in her life that I feel she would like you to know--
CROCKSTEAD. If you are not betraying a confidence--
ALINE. [_Looking down._] No. She loved a man, years ago, very dearly. They were too poor to marry, but they vowed to wait. Within six months she learned that he was