“I have come to marry you.”
Nell shook her head, but she drew a long sigh of satisfaction.
“I like to hear you say so. It is good of you,” she said, in a gentle, timid voice, “although it is impossible.”
“Why?”
“Oh, you don’t want me to go over the old ground again. Can’t you be satisfied that it is impossible?”
“No, I can’t, unfortunately. My darling, you can’t hold out any longer. It was dignified to refuse before; now it would only be foolish. Who is going to take care of you now, Nell, if you won’t have me?”
But he had touched a tender spot, and she began to cry softly.
“Poor uncle!” sobbed she. “It nearly broke my heart when he did not know even me. And then when they took him away—”
“Was he harmless?” asked Clifford, interrupting.
“Yes; he was quite harmless, and would let me manage him always. And the police came and—and took him away.”