'
'What then do you wish?' inquired Venetia, with great simplicity.
'I wish you to marry me,' replied Lord Cadurcis.
'Marry!' exclaimed Venetia, with a face of wonder. 'Marry! Marry you!
Marry you, Plantagenet!'
'Ay! is that so wonderful? I love you, and if you love me, why should
we not marry?'
Venetia was silent and looked upon the ground, not from agitation,
for she was quite calm, but in thought; and then she said, 'I never
thought of marriage in my life, Plantagenet; I have no intention, no
wish to marry; I mean to live always with mamma.'
'And you shall always live with mamma, but that need not prevent you
from marrying me,' he replied. 'Do not we all live together now? What
will it signify if you dwell at Cadurcis and Lady Annabel at Cherbury?
Is it not one home? But at any rate, this point shall not be an
obstacle; for if it please you we will all live at Cherbury.'
'You say that we are happy now, Plantagenet; oh! let us remain as we
are.'
'My own sweet girl, my sister, if you please, any title, so it be one
of fondness, your sweet simplicity charms me; but, believe me, it
cannot be as you wish; we cannot remain as we are unless we marry.'
'Why not?'
'Because I shall be wretched and must live elsewhere, if indeed I can
live at all.
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