"Why—why are you marrying me?" I asked him suddenly.
"Why are you marrying me?" he countered.
"Father," I said, and stopped.
He nodded.
"I, too," he said simply.
All at once I realized what a tremendous sacrifice he was making. I tried, very poorly, to tell him.
"Not at all," he assured me, "I am perfectly clear as to what I am doing. And my own motives. I shall be, after all," he added, "perfectly free—except perhaps outwardly."
There was something in his voice.... I got to my feet.
"Very well," I said, "it is understood that we are both free? Except perhaps outwardly?"
I do not think he liked it.