"
"But I will persevere till you accept my love, or say with your hand
on your heart that you cannot and will not love me."
"Then I must beg you to let me go," and having so said, she paused
while he walked once or twice hurriedly up and down the room. "And
Lord Lufton," she continued, "if you will leave me now, the words
that you have spoken shall be as though they had never been uttered."
"I care not who knows they have been uttered. The sooner that they
are known to all the world the better I shall be pleased, unless
indeed--"
"Think of your mother, Lord Lufton."
"What can I do better than give her as a daughter the best and
sweetest girl I have ever met? When my mother really knows you, she
will love you as I do. Lucy, say one word to me of comfort."
"I will say no word to you that shall injure your future comfort. It
is impossible that I should be your wife."
"Do you mean that you cannot love me?"
"You have no right to press me any further," she said; and sat down
upon the sofa, with an angry frown upon her forehead.
"By heavens," he said, "I will take no such answer from you till you
put your hand upon your heart, and say that you cannot love me."
"Oh, why should you press me so, Lord Lufton?"
"Why, because my happiness depends upon it; because it behoves me to
know the very truth.
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