"He has told me everything." Lizzie, when she said this, paused, looking at her victim. "He has told me things which he could not mention to you. It was only yesterday,—the day before yesterday,—that he was speaking to me of his debts. I offered to place all that I have at his disposal, so as to free him, but he would not take my money."
"Of course he would not."
"Not my money alone. Then he told me that he was engaged to you. He had never told me before, but yet I knew it. It all came out then. Lucy, though he is engaged to you, it is me that he loves."
"I don't believe it," said Lucy.
"You can't make me angry, Lucy, because my heart bleeds for you."
"Nonsense! trash! I don't want your heart to bleed. I don't believe you've got a heart. You've got money; I know that."
"And he has got none. If I did not love him, why should I wish to give him all that I have? Is not that disinterested?"
"No. You are always thinking of yourself. You couldn't be disinterested."
"And of whom are you thinking? Are you doing the best for him,—a man in his position, without money, ambitious, sure to succeed if want of money does not stop him,—in wishing him to marry a girl with nothing? Cannot I do more for him than you can?"
"I could work for him on my knees, I love him so truly!"