AweekorsoaftertheelectionIreceivedaletterfromGeorgeHutchinsaskingmetocometoElkington.Ishallnotenterintothedetailsofthelegalmatterinvolved.ManytimesthatwinterIwasaguestattheyellow-brickhouse,andIhavetoconfess,asspringcameon,thatImadeseveraltripstoElkingtonwhichbusinessnecessitydidnotabsolutelydemand.
IconsideredMaudeHutchins,andfoundtheconsiderationratheradelightfulprocess.Asbecameaneligibleandsuccessfulyoungman,I
wascarefulnottobetraytoomuchinterest;andIoccupiedmyselfatfirstwithareviewofwhatIdeemedhershortcomings.NotthatIwasthinkingofmarriage——butIhadimaginedthefutureMrs.Paretastall;
Maudewasuptomychin:again,thehairofthefortunateladywastobedark,andMaude\'swasgoldenred:myidealhadesprit,lightnessoftouch,thefacultyofseizingjusttheaspectofasubjectthatdelightedme,andaknowledgeoftheworld;Maudewassimple,direct,andinawordprovincial.Herprovinciality,however,wasnegativeratherthanpositive,shehadnodisagreeablemannerisms,hervoicewasnotnasal;
herplasticityappealedtome.IsupposeIwaslostwithoutknowingitwhenIbegantothinkofmouldingher.