Explore "Barring the Way" by Edith Nesbit on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
I DON'T know how she could have done it. I couldn't have done it / myself. At least, I don't think so. But being lame and small, and / not noticeable anyhow, I had never any temptation, so I can't judge / those that have.
Ellen was tall and a slight figure, and as pretty as a picture in / her Sunday clothes, and prettier than any picture on a working day, / with her sleeves rolled up to her shoulder and the colour in her / face like a rose, and her brown, hair all twisted up rough anyhow; / and, of course, she was much sought after and flattered. But I / couldn't have done it myself, I think, even if I had been sought / after twice as much and twice as handsome. No, I couldn't, not after / the doctor had said that father's heart was weak, and any sudden / shock might bring an end to him.