"Of course. What is the use of having friends if you cannot rely on them to do anything you want?"
"If I could be one of your friends," he said gravely, "I am sure I would not 'draw any line,' as you call it."
"With what seriousness you say that!" she exclaimed, very much amused. She was nervous from the knowledge that he had found her out in the church, and she laughed at anything rather recklessly. But Batiscombe had turned grave again.
"Would you rather that one should ask such a privilege in jest?" he asked.
"No indeed," said she, a little frightened at the point to which she had brought him.
"Then I ask it very much in earnest," he answered.
"To be my friend?" she asked, looking straight before her.
"Yes, to be your friend," said he, watching her closely.
"Really? In earnest?"
"Really—in earnest," he answered. She stopped suddenly in the road.