"And I hoped so."
"What will you do, Phineas? You cannot live without an income."
"I must try," he said, laughing.
"You will not share with your friend, as a friend should?"
"No, Lady Laura. That cannot be done."
"I do not see why it cannot. Then you might be independent."
"Then I should indeed be dependent."
"You are too proud to owe me anything."
He wanted to tell her that he was too proud to owe such obligation as she had suggested to any man or any woman; but he hardly knew how to do so, intending as he did to inform her before they returned to the house of his intention to ask Madame Goesler to be his wife. He could discern the difference between enjoying his wife's fortune and taking gifts of money from one who was bound to him by no tie;—but to her in her present mood he could explain no such distinction. On a sudden he rushed at the matter in his mind. It had to be done, and must be done before he brought her back to the house. He was conscious that he had in no degree ill-used her. He had in nothing deceived her. He had kept back from her nothing which the truest friendship had called upon him to reveal to her. And yet he knew that her indignation would rise hot within her at his first word. "Laura," he said, forgetting in his confusion to remember her rank, "I had better tell you at once that I have determined to ask Madame Goesler to be my wife."
"Oh, then;—of course your income is certain."