“Why?”
“Because—”
“Now tell me the truth. Have you another attachment?”
“Yes, dear papa.” (In a whisper and as red as fire.)
“Somebody of whom you are not proud.”
“I AM proud of him. He is Mr. Coventry's superior. He is everybody's superior in everything in the world.”
“No, Grace, you can hardly be proud of your attachment; if you had been, you would not have hidden it all this time from your father.” And Mr. Carden sighed.
Grace burst out crying, and flung herself on her knees and clung, sobbing, to him.
“There, there,” said he, “I don't want to reproach you; but to advise you.”
“Oh, papa! Take and kill me. Do: I want to die.”