“Did Alvar ask you to come and tell me this?”
“No,” said Cheriton, “he was hurt by your misunderstanding him, he does not know I am here. Jack drove me over. But I shall not agree to any other arrangement than what I have told you, unless,” he added slowly, “things should go badly, and then I know you would have patience.”
“Oh, Cherry,” said Virginia, struggling with her tears, “I hope you don’t think me so selfish as to wish to prevent Alvar from going with you. It is not that.”
“But what is it, then? Can you tell me?” said Cherry gently, and sitting down by her side.
“I have no one to ask,” she said; “but you will think me wrong, and yet—”
“I know too well how difficult it is to be right in matters of feeling, if you once begin to analyse them,” said Cherry sadly.
The gentleness of his voice and the kind look of his eyes gave her courage, and she said, very low,—
“I think I should not make Alvar happy, because he does not care for me. Please understand that he has done all he could; he is very kind to me, but he does not care for me.”
“You know, Virginia,” said Cherry eagerly, “Alvar has different ways from ours. Indeed, he is loving—”
“He loves you,” said Virginia quickly; then, blushing scarlet, she added, “oh, Cherry, I think it is beautiful the way he is grateful to you, and thinks so much of you. Please, please, don’t think I would have it otherwise.”