"You have the perfect
gift in private life, and you have a public gift. You have a genius for
ruling. Say, my dear, don't wreck it all. I know you are not for me,
but there are better men in the country than I am. Hartzman will be a
great man one day--he wants you. Young Tilden wants you; he has
millions, and he will never disgrace them or you, the power which they
can command, and the power which you have. And there are others. Your
people have told you they will turn you off; the world will say things--
will rend you. There is nothing so popular for the moment as the fall of
a favourite. But that's nothing--it's nothing at all compared with the
danger to yourself. I didn't sleep last night thinking of it. Yet I'm
glad you wrote me; it gave me time to think, and I can tell you the truth
as I see it. Haven't you thought that he will drag you down, down, down,
wear out your soul, break and sicken your life, destroy your beauty--you
are beautiful, my dear, beyond what the world sees, even. Give it up--
ah, give it up, and don't break our hearts! There are too many people
loving you for you to sacrifice them--and yourself, too.
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