Henry James | This power he could exert but vaguely ; the best exercise of it was to accept her decisions submissively - which indeed there was already an emotion in doing

They had wandered back to their chairs in the centre of the square again, and Ralph had lighted his cigarette. It would have given him extreme pleasure to be present in person at the modest little feast she had sketched ; but in default of this he liked even being forbidden.For the moment, however, he liked immensely being alone with her, in the thickening dusk, in the centre of the multitudinous town ; it made her seem to depend upon him and to be in his power. This power he could exert but vaguely ; the best exercise of it was to accept her decisions submissively - which indeed there was already an emotion in doing.

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English | New