"No; do not do that."
"But there are fitnesses of things which such a one as you cannot disregard without preparing for yourself a whole life of repentance."
"Look here, Mabel."
"Well?"
"I will tell you the truth."
"Well?"
"I would sooner lose all;—the rank I have; the rank that I am to have; all these lands that you have been looking on; my father's wealth, my seat in Parliament,—everything that fortune has done for me,—I would give them all up, sooner than lose her." Now at any rate he was a man. She was sure of that now. This was more, very much more, not only than she had expected from him, but more than she had thought it possible that his character should have produced.
His strength reduced her to weakness. "And I am nothing," she said.
"Yes, indeed; you are Lady Mabel Grex,—whom all women envy, and whom all men honour."
"The poorest wretch this day under the sun."