“Very. It bears out my estimate of his character,” he said, his brow knitting itself. “He—he told you that?”
“Yes,” she said, in a low voice.
He drew a breath of relief.
“Heaven grant you have done wisely!” he said. “Of one thing there can be no doubt; he loves you very deeply, Olivia.”
“Yes,” she assented.
“And you?”
She kept the brave smile on her face.
“I shall make him as good a wife as I can, dear,” she said. “I—I think he will be very happy.”
He drew her to him and kissed her.
“It is of your happiness I am thinking,” he said, in a low, nervous voice. “But I think you have done right. Heaven send you every joy, my child. You have been, and will still be, all the world to me—all the world——” He broke off abruptly, as if unable to continue, and, gently releasing her, walked aside for a moment. Then he came back to her. “You will live at The Maples, Olivia? I could not lose you—I could not! There must be an understanding—a bargain.”