'I thought I had given you authority to act in my name.'
'It might be simplified.'
'Shall I sign my name!'
'Yes—once—to make mine yours. If your claims are mine, I can take much better care of the Dynevor interest.'
Mary rested her cheek on her hand, and looked at him with her grave steady face, not very much discomposed after the first glimpse of his meaning.
'Will you, Mary?'
'You know I will,' she said.
'Then there is no time to be lost. Let it be to-morrow. Yes'—going on in the quiet deliberate tone that made it so difficult to interrupt him—'then I could, in my own person, negotiate for the sale of the mines. I find there is an offer that Robson kept secret. I could wind up the accounts, see what can be saved for the Northwold people, and take you safe home by the end of a fortnight.'
'Oh, Louis!' cried Mary, almost sobbing, 'this will not do. I cannot entangle you in our ruinous affairs.'
'Insufficient objections are consent,' said Louis, smiling. 'Do you trust me, Mary?'