"It would do no good,—none. I only asked you because you can hardly know how sad is our state at home."
"But I cannot see that that need deter you, if you can love me."
"Can you not? If you saw him, and the house, and my mother, you would not say so. In the Bible it is said of some season that it is not a time for marrying, or for giving in marriage. And so it is with us."
"I am not pressing you as to a day. I only ask you to say that you will be engaged to me,—so that I may tell my own people, and let it be known."
"I understand all that. I know how good you are. But, Major Grantly, you must understand me also when I assure you that it cannot be so."
"Do you mean that you refuse me altogether?"
"Yes; altogether."
"And why?"
"Must I answer that question? Ought I to be made to answer it? But I will tell you fairly, without touching on anything else, that I feel that we are all disgraced, and that I will not take disgrace into another family."
"Grace, do you love me?"