"What can I do?" exclaimed Closs, who felt the reason of this appeal. "How can I act generously to you—fairly to her?"
"Go away. She is young, volatile, capricious, but generous as the day. Be open with her; tell her why you leave Oakhurst and how impossible it is to return."
"But there is one wild hope for me—the possibility of gaining this old lady's consent."
Lord Hope smiled in pity of the forlorn idea.
"You may as well ask the stars of heaven to fall."
"But it may chance that I can plead my cause with her."
"Then your best argument will be that I have driven you ignominiously from Oakhurst," said Lord Hope, with fine irony in his smile. "She will forgive much to any man I am known to dislike."
"My lord, I love your daughter so entirely, that it is impossible for me to give up all hope. Leave me this one gleam, or, failing in that, give me such chances as time may bring."
Again Lord Hope answered with that keen smile.
"I withhold nothing from you but my consent."