"Then I don't think I like marriage in your rank of life. With a poor man, and lots of work and trouble and children, it would be very interesting; but--look at Lady Smith-Biggs! I don't know what Sir Joseph is like, of course, but she looks as if she led a dull life."
"Very!" assented Ned, back to smiles once more. "But I wouldn't, if I were you, take Lady Smith-Biggs' as a test case; there are plenty of marriages----" he paused, feeling it would be difficult with Aura's standard to adduce many examples; but then he was prepared to chuck everything, and go forth with sandal shoon into the wilderness if need be. Yes! she was right. It was hardly marriage that he wanted after all.
So for a time they sat and looked out over the pale blue mists behind which the hills loomed large, seeming to lose themselves in the pale blue sky.
"There must be something better," said the girl at last. "Oh, Ned! there is something better!"
"Better than love," he echoed; "perhaps than some loves; not better than mine!"
"Don't people always say that? Perhaps he said it to Gwen----"
"Child!" he said swiftly, "don't think of that--that was not love."
"And it was not marriage either," she replied softly; "but what you mean has nothing to do with what is called love, with what is called marriage--that is what I mean too."
He shook his head. "That is too fine for me, Aura! I want you. I am not satisfied without you."
He was so close to her that he could lay his hand on hers.