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men who had accosted her, doubtless with requests to dance, and continued on her way to Walter. |
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Joanna rose when Geoffrey held out his hand to her. His lameness made Geoffrey an awkward dancer, but he enjoyed it nonetheless, and it was a considerable pleasure to know that lame as he was, Joanna preferred him as a partner to anyone else. This time, however, she looked distressed, and Geoffrey asked what was wrong. She pointed to Sybelle and Walter as Geoffrey led her out onto the floor. |
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"I have pulled them apart twice today already. I suppose it is useless to separate them again," she said. |
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"But why did you try?" Geoffrey asked, considerably surprised. "I am gladder and gladder of this opportunity for them to be together in this festal atmosphere. If Walter is given to drink or wild behavior, it will show and Sybelle will withdraw. What is more, although I am certain Walter would not use her dishonorably, even if he wished to do so, it is too crowded. What do you fear, my love?" |
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They were then parted by the steps of the dance and Joanna had time to consider before she replied. Truly, she did not know what she feared, although it was certainly not that Walter would physically seduce her daughter. Nor had she ever thought him more prone to drink or wildness than any normal man. What she feared, actually, was Walter's clever handling of Sybelle. |
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Joanna felt that Walter was playing Sybelle like a fish, and she did not like it. He had seen very quickly that lugubrious sighs of love only tickled Sybelle's funny bone, but deliberately making her laugh, while gazing at her with the eyes of a lovesick calf, was turning the silly girl's head. Also, Joanna had seen Walter with Marie de les Maures. She had not tried to hear what had passed between them, but it was clear that a flirtation was in progress. Very possibly it meant nothing; Walter was bored and alone and could well have been whiling away the time, but Joanna did not like it. |
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Although there was some justice in Joanna's concern with Walter's interest in Marie, she was investing him with far greater astuteness than he was capable of bringing to bear in his relationship with Sybelle. It was true that, finding him physically attractive and having been urged in his direction by everyone she loved, trusted, and respected, Sybelle was allowing herself to fall deeper and deeper in love, as her mother |
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