affair--only blood relatives.

While I was alone with Mr. Philander the old fellow became rather
confidential. Said Miss Porter had already postponed the wedding
on three different occasions. He confided that it appeared to him
that she was not particularly anxious to marry Clayton at all; but
this time it seems that it is quite likely to go through.

Of course they all asked after you, but I respected your wishes
in the matter of your true origin, and only spoke to them of your
present affairs.

Miss Porter was especially interested in everything I had to say
about you, and asked many questions. I am afraid I took a rather
unchivalrous delight in picturing your desire and resolve to go back
eventually to your native jungle. I was sorry afterward, for it
did seem to cause her real anguish to contemplate the awful dangers
to which you wished to return. "And yet," she said, "I do not
know. There are more unhappy fates than the grim and terrible
jungle presents to Monsieur Tarzan. At least his conscience will
be free from remorse. And there are moments of quiet and restfulness
by day, and vistas of exquisite beauty. You may find it strange
that I should say it, who experienced such terrifying experiences
in that frightful forest, yet at times I long to return, for I cannot
but feel that the happiest moments of my life were spent there."

There was an expression of ineffable sadness on her face as
she spoke, and I could not but feel that she knew that I knew her
secret, and that this was her way of transmitting to you a last
tender message from a heart that might still enshrine your memory,