“Of which Jack will not take one penny. You see he is as proud as he is poor.”
“I like him for that,” murmured Lady Bell.
“Yes, so do I; though it pains and grieves me. If Jack would permit me to help him, Lady Bell, he might marry Una Rolfe tomorrow; but as it is, I fear, I am anxious. Another man would be wiser, but Jack has no idea of prudence, and would plunge head first into all the misery of such a union without a thought of the morrow.”
“And you—you think he loves her,” murmured Lady Bell; and she waited for an answer as a man on his trial might wait for the verdict of the jury.
Stephen smiled. He could read Lady Bell’s heart as if it were an open book.
“Loves her! No, certainly not—not yet. He is amused and entertained, but love has not come yet.”
“And she?” asked Lady Bell, anxiously, her eyes fixed on Una’s face.
Stephen smiled again.
“No, not yet. She is ignorant of the meaning of the word. I have taken some trouble to arrive at the truth, and I am sure of what I say. It is well for her that she is not, for anything like a serious engagement would be simply madness. Poor Jack! His future lies so plainly before him, and if he would follow it, the rest of his life might be happiness itself.”
“You mean that he should marry for money,” said Lady Bell, coldly.