The Doctor tells me that he
considers you his adopted daughter, and that he has already drawn
up a will leaving his savings to you; but I should like your future
to come from me, dear, even if I am not to share it with you. As
you know, I have a fine estate at home, and I should like to think
of you as its mistress."
And Isobel of course had given way, though not without protest.
"You don't know what I may be like yet," she said, half laughing,
half in earnest. "I may carry these red blotches to my grave."
"They are honorable scars, dear, as honorable as any gained in
battle. I hope, for your sake, that they will get better in time,
but it makes no difference to me. I know what you were, and how
you sacrificed your beauty. I suppose if I came back short of an
arm or leg you would not make that an excuse for throwing me over?"
"You ought to be ashamed of even thinking of such a thing, Ralph."
"Well, dear, I don't know that I did think it, but I am only putting
a parallel case to your own. No, you must consent: it is in all
ways best. We will be married on the morning I start, so as just
to give time for our wedding breakfast before I mount."
"It shall be as you wish," she said softly. "You know the estate
without you would be nothing to me, but I should like to bear your
name, and should you never come back to me, Ralph, to mourn for you
all my life as my husband. But I believe you will return to me. I
think I am getting superstitious, and believe in all sorts of things
since so many strange events have happened.
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