“You've already done things worth doing,” the girl broke in; “splendid things.”
[pg 023] “I've done nothing yet, but I'll change that. I'll ask your mother to give me a chance—to wait—”
“No,” she insisted. “Mother would refuse, and everything would be worse than ever.”
“Darling one, they couldn't be worse. Because now, I'm doing what I oughtn't to do, although it's been forced upon me by my love. To deserve you in the faintest degree, I must be open in my dealings. I must speak to Lady Vale-Avon.”
“She'll never consent.”
“At least I shall have done the right thing. Now we've had this talk, now you know that you're all the world, and heaven besides, to me, even for your mother's sake you won't throw me over, will you?”
“No, a thousand times no. I didn't dream loving would be like this. It would kill me to give you up.”
“Then nothing can part us.”
“It makes me feel brave to hear you say so. But—you don't know mother.”
“I know myself, and I trust you.”