'Why, George?'
'Because, Venetia, perhaps,' and Lord Cadurcis hesitated, 'perhaps you would think differently of me? I mean perhaps your feelings towards me might; ah, Venetia! perhaps you might think me worthy of you; perhaps you might love me.'
'I am sure, dear George, if I did not love you, I should be the most ungrateful of beings: you are our only friend.'
'And can I never be more than a friend to you, Venetia?' said Lord
Cadurcis, blushing very deeply.
'I am sure, dear George, I should be very sorry for your sake, if you wished to be more,' said Venetia.
'Why?' said Lord Cadurcis.
'Because I should not like to see you unite your destiny with that of a very unfortunate, if not a very unhappy, person.'
'The sweetest, the loveliest of women!' said Lord Cadurcis. 'O
Venetia! I dare not express what I feel, still less what I could hope.
I think so little of myself, so highly of you, that I am convinced my
aspirations are too arrogant for me to breathe them.'
'Ah! dear George, you deserve to be happy,' said Venetia. 'Would that it were in my power to make you!'
'Dearest Venetia! it is, it is,' exclaimed Lord Cadurcis; then checking himself, as if frightened by his boldness, he added in a more subdued tone, 'I feel I am not worthy of you.'