“Do not take it so much to heart,” she timidly counselled. “It is nothing to me—the title or the money. They made my mother’s life a misery. My father was always cruel to her because of them, I do not know why. It is in his nature to be cruel, I think. He has a heart of granite, like these rocks. I hate him!” She brought out the last words in a sudden burst of passion which startled him.
“What nonsense it all is!” he exclaimed, suddenly changing his tone. “All this talk about a title which may never be revived. Let them have it between them, and the money too. Sisily, I love you, dear, love you better than all the titles and money in the world. I am not worthy of you, but I will try to be. Let us go Sway and start life … just our two selves.”
“I cannot.” She stood in front of him with downcast gaze, and then raised her eyes to his.
Had he been as experienced in the ways of her sex as he believed himself to be, he would have read more in her elusive glance than her words.
“You may be sorry if you do not,” he said, with a sudden access of male brutality. “There are reasons—reasons I cannot explain to you—”
“Even if there are I cannot do what you ask,” she replied. Her face was still averted, but her voice was steady.
“Then do you want to go with Aunt to London?” he persisted, trying to catch a glimpse of her hidden face.
She shook her head.
“Or to stay with your father?”
“No!” There was a strange intense note in the brief word.