She looked at him frankly. "It does. You do not like it, of course, but I cannot be sorry. She was never good enough for you, even when she was rich, and when she was poor----"
"Don't let us discuss it, please. The thing is over; and what with those who are too good and those who are not good enough I seem to have made a muddle of it. By the way, I suppose Miss Carmichael is still at Gleneira?"
"Certainly--but--but why? I fail to see the connection." It was not true; she saw it clearly enough, and her voice showed it.
"Only because I am going down there to-morrow."
"To burn your wings again?--that is foolish!"
"I have no wings to burn; but I am going to ask her to marry me--to face the villa with me, as you put it."
Mrs. Vane started from her pillow with fear, surprise, dislike in every feature.
"Are you mad, Paul? The girl does not care for you; I'm certain of that. Then she is half engaged, I believe, to Alphonse--Dr. Kennedy, I mean. Her letter is full of him; you can see it if you like."
"I have no doubt of it; he is a far more admirable person than I am. I fully expect she will refuse me, but I mean to ask her all the same."
"But why? Since you have told me so much you may as well tell me all. Why?"