“You will understand naturally,” he began again, “that Hero is my chief interest in life. Her happiness is dearer to me than anything else in the world.”
“And to me, too,” Alistair put in swiftly, raising his head and looking Sir Bernard in the face.
“That is what I hoped you would say,” Sir Bernard answered gravely. “I want to discuss the matter with you from that point of view.”
Alistair lowered his head again.
“I am not good enough for her—you need not tell me that. But if she loves me?” He spoke in low tones, which only just reached the father’s ears.
“You must let me speak plainly, Lord Alistair, as plainly as I spoke to your brother when he came to me with the same request.”
“Trent! Did he come to you on my behalf?” cried Alistair in astonishment.
“He came on his own. He has known Hero longer than you have.”
It took Alistair a moment or two to grasp the situation.
“Did you refuse Trent?” he exclaimed.