"He was staying at Drumcaller,—he and I together with no one else,—when he went over to ask her. I never saw a man so happy as when he came back from Glenbogie. He had got all that he wanted in the world."
"I do so love him because he loves her."
"And I love her,—because she loves you."
"It is not the same, you know," said Ayala, trying to think it all out.
"May I not love her?"
"He is to be my brother. That's why I love him. She can't be your sister." The poor girl, though she had tried to think it all out, had not thought very far.
"Can she not?" he said.
"Of course not. Lucy is to marry Mr. Hamel."
"And whom am I to marry?" Then she saw it all. "Ayala,—Ayala,—who is to be my wife?"
"I do not know," she said,—speaking with a gruff voice, but still in a whisper, with a manner altogether different,—thinking how well it would be that she should be taken at once back into the house.