You don't seem to realize that you're doing me
a favor, that it's a privilege to be allowed to help develop such a
marvelous voice as yours. Scores of people would jump at the chance."

"That doesn't lessen my obligation," said she. And she thought she
meant it, though, in fact, his generous and plausible statement of the
case had immediately lessened not a little her sense of obligation.

On the whole, however, she was not sorry she had this chance to talk of
obligation. Slowly, as they saw each other from time to time, often
alone, Stanley had begun--perhaps in spite of himself and
unconsciously--to show his feeling for her. Sometimes his hand
accidentally touched hers, and he did not draw it away as quickly as he
might. And she--it was impossible for her to make any gesture, much
less say anything, that suggested sensitiveness on her part. It would
put him in an awkward position, would humiliate him most unjustly. He
fell into the habit of holding her hand longer than was necessary at
greeting or parting, of touching her caressingly, of looking at her
with the eyes of a lover instead of a friend. She did not like these
things. For some mysterious reason--from sheer perversity, she
thought--she had taken a strong physical dislike to him. Perfectly
absurd, for there was nothing intrinsically repellent about this
handsome, clean, most attractively dressed man, of the best type of
American and New-Yorker. No, only perversity could explain such a silly
notion. She was always afraid he would try to take advantage of her
delicate position--always afraid she would have to yield something,
some trifle; yet the idea of giving anything from a sense of obligation
was galling to her. His very refraining made her more nervous, the
more shrinking. If he would only commit some overt act--seize her, kiss
her, make outrageous demands--but this refraining, these touches that
might be accidental and again might be stealthy approach-- She hated
to have him shake hands with her, would have liked to draw away when
his clothing chanced to brush against hers.

So she was glad of the talk about obligation. It set him at a
distance, immediately. He ceased to look lovingly, to indulge in the
nerve-rasping little caresses. He became carefully formal. He was
evidently eager to prove the sincerity of his protestations--too eager
perhaps, her perverse mind suggested. Still, sincere or not, he held
to all the forms of sincerity.