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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: from Paris was much more accommodating, and he hushed up the other.
But for all he could do Mr. Valentin and Mademoiselle heard something;
they knew their father's death was somehow against nature.
Of course they couldn't accuse their mother, and, as I tell you,
I was as dumb as that stone. Mr. Valentin used to look at me sometimes,
and his eyes seemed to shine, as if he were thinking of asking me something.
I was dreadfully afraid he would speak, and I always looked away and went
about my business. If I were to tell him, I was sure he would hate
me afterwards, and that I could never have borne. Once I went up to him and
took a great liberty; I kissed him, as I had kissed him when he was a child.
'You oughtn't to look so sad, sir,' I said; 'believe your poor old Bread.
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