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I'm sorry for upsetting you, says Flora--the West Wing has been on my mind all day--your father went there last night. Oh no! cries Melanie. They found him in the corridor, says Flora, outside the room. Why does this have to happen? asks Melanie, upset. Nothing has happened, comforts Flora, we found him. But if he goes there one more time, he will die, wails Melanie--he can't die!--he can't--I love him so--he can't die--we couldn't stand to have that lottery again. Don't call it that! insists Flora--never!--darling Papa's not going to die, I'm sorry I told you that. You had to tell me, says Melanie, we should leave this house, all of us. A generation ago, says Flora, William Collins found that didn't help--it happens to us wherever we go. We must keep Papa alive, insists Melanie.We will, Flora assures her--now, Papa wants to see you, but you must not mention any of what happened--because he doesn't seem to remember what happened last night--we don't want him to, do we? No! agrees Melanie breathlessly, I only wish no one remembered. The two women leave the room, Daphne watching them in consternation.[/spoiler]
may I ask who you are? Roxanne Drew, she says. He repeats her first name--it's beautiful, he praises. Are you planning on staying at Collinwood? she asks. I hope to be, he says, gazing into her eyes, but my plans aren't finalized yet. They make serious eye contact--I trust you're no longer afraid, he says. No, I'm not, she agrees, moving in close--if my father knew that I stopped to talk to a perfect stranger, he'd have apoplexy. Barnabas smiles--I hope you won't consider me a stranger for much longer, he says. They smile at each other. You're the most amazing man, she says--I really should be on my way. Miss Drew, may I see you again? he asks. You're very direct, aren't you? she asks. You may not understand this, he says, but when I first saw you, I had the feeling that somehow we were always destined to be together, to meet.You're a most unusual man, Mr. Collins, she says. Barnabas, he corrects--may I call on you at home? My father is out of town on business for a few days, she says--we have a guest in the house, but he retires very early--I'd be pleased if you'd call on me anytime you wish. Getting near kissing distance, he assures her, I will. He kisses her hand and says, "Till we meet again." Good night--Barnabas--she says, and drifts off. He looks after her, already in love. His forehead creases when he realizes, I can put her life in danger--don't see her again, he orders himself--"I must stay away from her!"[/spoiler]