"Well, mother, what answer do you intend to give me?" he said. "My
mind is positively made up. I should not have come to you had not
that been the case. You will now be going down home, and I would wish
you to treat Lucy as you yourself would wish to treat any girl to
whom you knew that I was engaged."
"But you say that you are not engaged."
"No, I am not; but I have made my offer to her, and I have not been
rejected. She has confessed that she--loves me,--not to myself,
but to her brother. Under these circumstances, may I count upon
your obliging me?" There was something in his manner which almost
frightened his mother, and made her think that there was more behind
than was told to her. Generally speaking, his manner was open,
gentle, and unguarded; but now he spoke as though he had prepared his
words, and was resolved on being harsh as well as obstinate.
"I am so much taken by surprise, Ludovic, that I can hardly give you
an answer. If you ask me whether I approve of such a marriage, I must
say that I do not; I think that you would be throwing yourself away
in marrying Miss Robarts."
"That is because you do not know her."
"May it not be possible that I know her better than you do, dear
Ludovic? You have been flirting with her--"
"I hate that word; it always sounds to me to be vulgar.
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