"Also," he continued, "that from the beginning, ever since I first met you, even when you made that admission about—him, I always thought of you apart from him, as Maggy—the nice girl."
"Maggy—the nice girl!" she echoed in wonder.
"When you came down to Purton Towers I seemed to see you as belonging there. Even after you had gone I felt that."
"But—how could I belong to Purton Towers?" she asked in a wondering voice.
"By marrying me," he said very deliberately.
She looked at him blankly for a few seconds.
"Marry you!" she faltered. "Me—marry you?"
"Suppose," he went on, "suppose I said I needed you? I do say it. I believe that we can bring something into each other's lives that at present is missing, and perhaps always has been. We should, at any rate, be very perfect friends. That would be something."
All her face lit up. Her lips quivered.
"What an idea! Me and you! At breakfast, at dinner—always.... Purton Towers, and me—your wife! Oh, you dear, I do believe you mean it! As if I could! But I tell you what: let me live in a little cottage in the grounds and sell eggs!"