“Didst thou love this man, Evaline?” he said.
“Love him?” exclaimed Evaline, wringing her clasped hands. “O! God! how dearly!”
Sir Edgar turned pale with surprise.
“Thou shouldst have told me this afore,” he said, reproachingly.
“He besought me to conceal it for a time,” answered Evaline, “as he had that in view, he said, which would make his fortune equal mine, and insure him your favour.”
Sir Edgar bit his lips, and mused a moment. He then stepped up to Evaline’s chair, and, there pausing, took her hand in his.
“Thou know’st I have thy welfare at heart, my child!” he said.
“Right well,” replied Evaline, calmly, yet without looking up.
“And if I ask thee to do a thing I have dreamed of for years, and which will make my last days pass lightly, wilt thou cry me nay?” asked Sir Edgar.