“You love the earl dearly, and would not marry him for the world! That is crazy talk. What do you mean by it?”
“Why, one does not want to marry people because one loves people. I love you and Uncle Force, and Cousin Le, and Sam and Ned, and ever so many more; but I would not marry any of you for all the world, even if I could. And I love Lord Enderby more than I do all the others, but I would not marry him. I would die first!”
“Then, I know what is the matter. The secret is out! You love some one else even better than you do the earl! Is not that so? I am the head of the family, Rosemary, and I have a right to know.”
“Uncle,” whispered the little creature, in a tremulous voice, as she clasped her tiny hands over her heart, speaking frankly under the friendly cover of the darkness—“uncle, I am not free to marry the earl, even if I wished to do so, which, indeed, I do not. I am engaged to Roland Bayard!”
“Good Lord bless my soul alive!” exclaimed the old man. “Since when, if you please?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Uncle Gideon; but I have been engaged to Roland for years and years and years.”
“Bless my soul and body!”
“It is a sacred bond, and I wouldn’t break it even if I could.”
“Ah! the love that grew from childhood—was that it, Rosemary?”
“Yes, dear Uncle Gideon.”